THE CONSERVATORY. 
531 
of the bases of the leaves closely folded to- 
gether ; at the lower part of this stem the 
central bud is situated ; this latter, when the 
leaves are fully developed, pushes upward, and 
bears the flower and fruit. Having once 
flowered, the stem perishes and is succeeded 
by young stems or suckers from the base, 
which speedily acquire size and strength. 
Fruit of the Musa chincmis. 
The fruits of the Plantain grow in clusters 
weighing sixty pounds and upwards. When 
grown in tropical countries they assume a pale 
yellow colour in a ripe state, and vary from 
six to nine inches long, and upwards of an 
inch in diameter ; the outer skin is tough, 
but it encloses a pulp which is soft, and of a 
luscious sweet taste. It is a most valuable 
fruit to those who reside in tropical climates. 
Three dozen plantains are stated to be suf- 
ficient to support a man for a week much 
better than bread. When used in place of 
bread, they are roasted or boiled just as they 
become f'lll grown ; they are also eaten boiled 
with salt meat or fish. When ripe they are 
dried and preserved as a sweetmeat, or are 
made into tarts, or sliced and fried with 
butter. The Banana has a shorter and 
rounder fruit, and the pulp is softer and more 
luscious ; it is used in the same way as the 
plantain ; from it also are prepared a drink 
like cyder, and an excellent marmalade. The 
Chinese plantain bears fruit of exquisite 
flavour, and being dwarf and very prolific, it 
is well adapted for artificial cultivation, as an 
adjunct to the dessert. 
The culture of these plants is very simple 
where the means are at command. They re- 
quire stove temperature; a healthy atmosphere 
suitable for stove plants will suit them. Their 
growing period should if possible be made to 
accord with our summer, when they can hardly 
get too much heat and moisture ; in winter 
they may rest in a cooler place. Their growth 
should never be checked ; and being of large 
growth, if not planted out they must have 
large tubs to grow in, and must be provided 
with rich loamy soil, and frequent supplies of 
liquid manure. In fine, they require very 
liberal and encouraging treatment when grow- 
ing, in order that they may become strong. 
When they have grown so far as to develope 
all their leaves, the spadix of flowers soon 
follows ; and all the while these and the fruit 
are progressing, the same liberal treatment 
must be continued. As the fruit approaches 
maturity they may be kept somewhat drier, 
and as soon as some of the fruit begin to 
ripen, the cluster should be cut and hung up 
in a dry room, where they will ripen in suc- 
cession. In a short time afterward, when 
suckers make their appearance from the base, 
the old stem may be cut away, the suckers 
carefully separated, and planted singly in 
pots or tubs suitable to their size, from which 
they must be removed to larger ones as they 
progress in growth, their subsequent treat- 
ment being that briefly sketched out above. 
GARDENING CALENDAR FOR DECEMBER. 
THE CONSERVATORY. 
Winter management will now have to be 
adopted more or less generally, and continued 
through next month, and probably part of 
February. But it should not be forgotten, 
that in intervals of mild weather, which often 
occur, a more generous system of management 
ought to be followed at those particular times. 
Temperature, (Jr. — The temperature will 
vary with the use to which this house is ap- 
plied. II', as has been all along supposed, it 
is intended to be kept constantly gay, by 
bringing in forced and other flowers, a tem- 
perature of from 50 to 55 degs. by day, and 
about 48 degs. at night, will be necessary; but 
if it is filled chiefly with planted out specimens 
of green-house shrubs, and is managed princi- 
pally with reference to them, 45 degs. by day 
will be fully high enough, and several degrees 
lower will be sufficient for the night tempe- 
rature. The application of heat should not 
be too freely resorted to ; in fact, if the tem- 
perature can be maintained by closing the 
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