10 BULLETIN 55, HAWAII EXPERIMENT STATION 
Table 2. — Comparison of composition of bananas and other fruits 
Edible 
portion 
Waste 
Water 
Protein 
Fat 
Carbohydrates 
Acids 
Kind 
as 
H2S0 < i Sugar 
Crude 
fiber 
Ash 
Banana (Chinese) 
Mango (Pirie) 
Avocado (Esbank) __ 
Per cent 
70.00 
60.00 
Per cent 
30.00 
40.00 
Per cent 
78.73 
79.48 
81.76 
53. 18 
83.73 
87.85 
Per cent 
1.788 
.456 
.950 
1.575 
.548 
.681 
.375 
.400 
Per cent 
0.180 
.032 
12. 620 
.190 
.148 
.387 
"\~500~ 
Per cent Per cent 
0.245 | 16.66 
.221 | 14.78 
2.84 
-. 049 9. 49 
. 140 ! 13. 76 
. 882 5. 90 
. 660 1 10. 70 
■ 14.20 
Per cent 
0.253 
.508 
1.030 
1.204 
.827 
.575 
Per cent 
0.955 
.343 
.800 
.952 
.687 
.453 
Breadfruit (Hawaiian) 
Papaya (No. 4610) 
77. 75 
22.25 
Orange (Kona) 
Pineapple. _ . ... 
72. 13 
27.87 
Apple ... ... 
84.60 
.300 
The world's leading food crops, including wheat, rice, corn, and 
potatoes, have become great staples because of their large yields of 
energy-producing food in concentrated and palatable form. In a 
comparative study of these foods, the banana has been found to 
lead in total production per acre and in fuel value per acre. Table 
3 compares the acre yield and fuel value of a fair crop of Chinese 
bananas and the other staple crops. 
Table 3. — Yield and food value of bananas and other crops 1 
Kind of crop 
Fair yield 
per acre 
Fuel value 
per pound 
Fuel value 
per acre 
Bananas.. .... . . ... .... . _ 
Pounds 
32, 000 
1,620 
3,000 
2,240 
10, 170 
14, 000 
Calories 
260 
1,650 
1,620 
1,635 
295 
440 
Calories 
8, 320, 000 
Wheat •_ 
2, 673, 000 
Rice ... ... ._ .. __ .. . 
4, 860, 000 
Corn. ---. .. . .......... . 
3, 662, 000 
White potatoes. __ ______________________ 
' 3, 000, 150 
Sweet potatoes ... ._ _ _ _ _ ._ _. 
6, 160, 000 
Hawaii Exp. Sta. Ext. Bui. 6 (1917), p. 4. 
The yields of bananas, rice, and sweet potatoes given in the table 
are, as explained by Higgins, based upon the experience of a num- 
ber of growers in Hawaii, and the estimate of fair yields of the other 
crops was arrived at by increasing by 50 per cent the average yields 
of plants in the areas of the United States where they are grown ex- 
tensively. Average yields can not be considered fair yields, but in- 
creasing them by 50 per cent would seem to be fair to these crops 
when comparing them with bananas. The estimated yield for rice 
includes the two crops which are harvested each year in Hawaii. 
Locally grown sugar will probably exceed the other crops in caloric 
value, but it can be used only in limited quantity in the diet. Ba- 
nanas as fresh fruit are too bulky to form a satisfactory ration, for 
one must consume 1,400 grams, or approximately 50 ounces, of the 
fruit to obtain 300 grams of carbohydrate. 
Reduced to a concentrated form, as by drying or converting into 
flour, the banana can be used in very large quantities and in times of 
necessity could replace much of the wheat, corn, potatoes, and similar 
imports. In these prepared forms the banana is adapted to a much 
wider use, and its nutritive value compares more favorably with the 
manufactured products of the cereals and dehydrated fruits. 
