No Island Bananas

For Australia

IT was during the years of World War I that a section of white planters in the Solomons studied the possib’e profitable production of edible bananas, Musa Sapientum, in the group.

This fruit was, unfortunately, not indigenous to those islands and had to be imported from other parts of the tropics. The experiment at Berande plantation on the east coast of Guadalcanal, owned by the SID (Solomon Island Development Co.), was watched with interest. Pessim ists said the distance from regular ’market was too great. Optimists countered with a demand for better, faster and more frequent shipping transport, otherwise the fruit would perish ere reaching journey’s end and also between steamers.

However, Berande’s experiment proceeded, and the Mindini (Capt.

Voy) carried the first consignment of bananas from the Solomons to Sydney. The very-excellent-quality fruit, somewhat large, was borne on big bunches, ranging from 80 lbs to just under 100 :bs in weight. The specimens, in Sydney, received ad miration and comment in the daily papers. People called at BP’s Syd ney office to examine those on ex hibition, and there was talk of a

product rivalling the Queensland production.

On the trip South, some of the bananas were stowed below decks, as cargo, but dozens of ripening bunches of fruit were suspended from the stanchions round the sides of the deck, for all and sundry

to help themselves. The fruit w luscious—and some of the passengi; gorged themselves on it. But tf BSI planters, like those in Fiji a i Norfolk Is:and, soon learned til there is a market in Australia on for Australian-grown bananas

L. Poole.