. Agricultural news. Agriculture -- West Indies; Plant diseases -- West Indies. -52 THE AGKICULTURAL NEWS. February 20, WEST INDIAN FRUIT. BANANA PRODUCTION. The banana industry of the West Indies is now of such value that all literature on the subject is likelv' to •create interest. Some iniormation on the conditions of banana cultivation in these islands, and ihe factors which control the profitable production of the crop are •brought together iu two articles wiiich appear respect- ively in the issues of Troincal Lift' for November, and December last. The three factors upon wliieh ban
. Agricultural news. Agriculture -- West Indies; Plant diseases -- West Indies. -52 THE AGKICULTURAL NEWS. February 20, WEST INDIAN FRUIT. BANANA PRODUCTION. The banana industry of the West Indies is now of such value that all literature on the subject is likelv' to •create interest. Some iniormation on the conditions of banana cultivation in these islands, and ihe factors which control the profitable production of the crop are •brought together iu two articles wiiich appear respect- ively in the issues of Troincal Lift' for November, and December last. The three factors upon wliieh banana growing as a commercial industry dejiends are soil, •climate, and The ideal banana soil is one containing an abundance of moisture, without being subject to [jeriodical droughts, and a good supply of liunuis and plant food. The land must also •be well drained. Bananas are largely giown in the Annatto Bay and Port .\ntonio districts of .Jamaica on rather heavy •clay .soil, but the most profitable plantations are on .soil of a loamy consistency. If the land is allowed to deteriorate in character, smaller bunches of bananas are produced, and the size of the individual fruit also decreases. A good .supply of water is undoubtedly essential to •succefisful banana culture, and the trees succeed well luuler irrigation. It is mentioned that, early in 19118, there weie 8,3)0 acres of bananas under irrigation in .Jamaica, for which 11,.'576 cubic yards of water per hour were licing used. Strong winds are destructive to the leaves of the banana, and as a result, vitality is lost and growth checked. The nature of the leaf, being all in one piece, and soft and pleas- ant to the t(rtich, indicates that the jilant will grow best in fairly moist conditions, and where the aii- is still. Bananas remove a great deal of ]ilant fnod IVoni the soil, and if production is to be carri(>d out on a conunercial , fertilizers nuist be judiciously applied. The quant
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