3 
it is out up into slices by large turnip cutters, 
and eagerly devoured by all kinds of cattle. 
If our stupid prejudices and obstinacy did not 
stand in the way, the instinct of not only the 
poor starving cattle, but even the well fed 
would show us what folly it is to cast out on 
the dunghill so valuable and never failing an 
article of fodder. If the fruit be produced in 
such abundance, much more will the stem 
supply our cattle with a constant and 
almost continual supply of food. The same 
extent of ground, which, in Europe, is calcu- 
lated to supply 30 lbs. of wheat ; and, in the 
tropics, 4,000 lbs. of fruit, at a low calculation, 
will supply 20,000 lbs. of fodder, fresh, green, 
and succulent; or, one stock will annually 
supply 500 lbs. of green fodder. For the sake 
of example — say, 1 acre of bananas planted 20 
feet apart; that will be 100 stools, or 50,000 
lbs., nearly 23^ tons of fodder. Take the 
distance usually allowed here — 4 yards apart 
— that will give 303 stools, or 151,000 lbs., 
nearly 67| tons of fodder. Taking the fruit 
and fodder together, an acre of 100 stools will 
produce 10,000 lbs. of fruit and 50,000 lbs. of 
fodder, whilst an acre of 302 stools will pro- 
duce 30,200 lbs. of fruit and 151,000 lbs. of 
fodder. I do not wish you to take my state- 
ments on trust ; but I wish you, at your first 
opportunity, to count the number of stems in 
the first well-cultivated stool you can examine ; 
and then I feel convinced that the calcula- 
tion you will make will exceed even the highly 
improbable and astounding result of mine; I 
will, at some future meeting, resume the sub- 
ject, and give a full account of its fibre pro- 
ducing qualities. 
The authorities to whom I am mainly indebted for 
facts and some figures are Humboldt, Schomburgk, Car 
penter, M'CuJloch, Simmonds, Henslow, Lindley, &c. 
-+• 
EUR AT A. 
Page 2, Column 1, Line 29 — For “ Musaceo,” read “ Musaceee.” 
}J „ „ 37 — For “ Monocious,” read “ Monoecious.” 
}) >} „ 57 — For “acres,” read “across.” 
Printed by G, Wight, ** Guardian Office,” Brisbane. 
