Spotlight on Bananas

Spc Experts

Focus The—

WHILE rich in vitamins A and 1 the humble but wholesonr banana is not the complee food that some advertising carr paigns have claimed.

But take one ripe banana and or pint of milk, and you have a well balanced food.

Most of the economic varietii of bananas in the South Pacit have been introduced, some by tl Islanders themselves (probably frot the Indo-Malayan region), anr some by Europeans.

The Chinese, or Cavendise banana is indigenous to Asia an is well known commercially in tH South Pacific by various names, e.f.

“China,” “Samoa,” “Amoa ” “Hamoas It was introduced in an interest ing manner by the renowned LM missionary, the Reverend Joh Williams.

During a visit to England in 182 Williams visited the Duke of Devor shire, who cultivated in glasshous tropical plants sent to him from s over the world.

When Williams left England 1839 he took with him seven suckers of a new banana plant th;j the Duke had received from Chinr One of these suckers managed ' survive the rigours of a nine-montl voyage to Apia, and from it tl LMS missionaries spread the Chin variety throughout their Sout.

Pacific stations.

To-day the China banana grown commercially in many Sout Pacific islands, and, with othi varieties of the same family, Mu.i paradisiaca, provides an importau cash income for the growers.

Properly cultivated, these varietii can produce 4 to 8 tons of fruit p< acre, representing 2,800,000 5,600,000 calories.

In Apia, the bananas rejected If the grading officers are sold local! very cheaply and are the main foo of the urban-Samoan population!

In New Guinea and the Solomoi banana bunches are wrapped in dt banana leaves as a protectio against damage by birds.

In New Caledonia, and at timi in the highlands of Papua, ripenin is speeded up by burying the gree bunches in mud.

These and other interesting fac: are revealed in a brief historical r* view of banana varieties found the South Pacific, in the Janua'j issue of the SPC Bulletin.

It is the eighth of a series o Pacific subsistence crops prepared I SPC officers Emile Massal an Jacques Barrau.

Just how, where, and when grow the commercial banana is des with in the same issue in a wel; documented article by J. C. GerlacD agronomist to the New Zealar Dept, of Agriculture.