BANANA CULTURE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 46, 23 February 1934, Page 6

BANANA CULTURE.

In an article which appeared in your paper of the 16th inst. entitled "Bananas in Whangarei," the writer referred to Mr. Hanlon, who has made a study of banana culture in the North, believing that it would be possible to obtain a variety that could be matured and ripened here, but not commercially. I am no authority on the subject, but my personal experience leads me to agree with that gentleman, seeing that at the present time I can ripen fair-sized bananas with a good, delicate flavour within two miles of your office. I have never given the plants any manure or attention. They grow to a fair height, have a large and extraordinary flower, but only tlio top portion of it develops into fruit, varying in number, the largest one at present having fifty-three. My friends seem surprised and comment upon the good quality of the fruit. It may happen that I have a suitable variety, but I attribute my partial success to the fact that they are grown close to the house, in loose soil, facing the north, and in a well-sheltered position. I am personally curious to know the reason for the lower portion of the flower not fruiting. Whether it is due to the plant not having strength, or that the right sort of pollen is not present to fertilise, I leave to someone who knows more tban I do. PROGRESS.