MUSA SAPIENTUM. 
57 
imperfect specimeii, with four or five torn and unsightly leaves, instead of one 
healthy and vigorous, crowned with heautiful and perfect foliage. It is also quite 
essential to allow the roots plenty of room and soil, so that the extreme exhaustion 
carried on continually by the leaves may be counteracted. The soil should comprise 
two parts of turfy loam, about half decomposed, and one of well-rotted dung from a 
disused hotbed, and a little sandy peat; the whole well reduced, and incorporated, 
but not sifted, this would much lessen its value by taking from it the fibrous part. 
As these fast growing plants are generally amongst the first to start in the spring, 
the sooner at this season they are shifted the better, which should never be deferred 
longer than the latter end of February. In shifting, the suckers, if any, should be 
carefully taken off, and planted in a proportionable sized pot, filled with the same 
compost ; but, at all times, except in the dead of winter, suckers, after they have 
made two perfect leaves, should be removed, as they take a deal of nutriment from the 
soil, thus diminishing the food of the parent plant. The treatment frequently given 
this plant during winter, operates as a detriment to its future welfare in a number 
of instances. Commonly the practice at this season is, to Avater it liberally, from 
a mistaken notion of its being essential in consequence of the healthy appearance 
always maintained by the leaves. The result of this method is, in the spring, when 
desired to shift and re-excite their growth, the roots assume an unnatural colour, 
and a great number totally perish. The baneful effects of this we have experienced, 
and find that a season of rest is indispensable for them. We therefore for three 
months in the winter apply little or no water, say from the middle of November to 
the middle or latter end of February, when they receive a full shift. 
After the soil has been changed, and the plant fully set fair for growing, in a 
temperature of 70° or 75^ Fahrenheit, water may be copiously administered, and 
the whole syringed forcibly with water of the same temperature. 
The suckers are produced in abundance from the base of the parent stem, they 
require a little additional attention after being taken off, until pretty well established, 
when they will thrive with the treatment given to old plants. 
A few plants have produced fruit in this country, which, in every instance, has 
been something inferior to that grown in the tropics, the taste generally being much 
like a sweet potato when boiled, and insipid ; the skin is tough and of a pale 
yellow colour. 
MUSA SAPIENTUM; OR, BANANA TREE, 
This noble species was added to the collections of this country about a century 
ago, being previous to that time imported from the tropics, when, shortly after, iis 
present specific name was given by Linnaeus. The earliest accounts we possess of this 
plant inform us of its being a distinct species, distinguished from the preceding 
one by its maculate or spotted stem, and of its fruit being less esteemed for food 
by the natives of the East and West Indies, where they are carefully cultivated by 
VOL. III. — NO. XXVII. I 
