BANANA UNIQUE AMONG FRUITS.

Shannon News, 28 February 1928, Page 2

BANANA UNIQUE AMONG FRUITS.

CAN MAINTAIN LIFE. It is rather surprising to remember in these days when the perennial banana is perhaps the commonest of all fruits to be seen on sale in this country, that a little over 30 years ago it was almost unknown in Europe, says a writer in the London Daily Telegraph. At first a few bananas were brought to England by sailors as curiosities, in the same way that they brought monkeys and parrots, as souvenirs of their travels to outlandish parts. Not until 1001 was the importation of the fruit to England from the West indies undertaken as a commercial proposition. Since that time, however, the popularity of the banana has advanced in a way never equalled by an exotic fruit. For years huge quantities have been reaching England from the Canary Islands, the West Judies, and Central America generally, and recently the product of Brazil has been added to the better-known varieties. So great is the demand that a fleet of steamers conveys to England every month over 1,000,000 bunches. ‘ Notwithstanding the high position the‘West Indies and Central America now occupy in the trade, however, it has been argued that the plant is not natural to that region. In the past considerable discussion has taken place as to whether it existed in the New World before Columbus. The suggestion has been put forward ihat the original plant was carried to that land by ocean currents.; on the other hand its growth there is said to be traced to a single plant taken to the mainland from Martinique about SO years ago. Others have contended that the original of the banana plant was in India or Southern Asia. There is certainly a species of the same genus to be found in China. Whatever the origin of the banana, .however, its fame has spread to the four quarters of the globe. And r ghtly so, if the claims of the scientist are accepted. It is a well-known fact that the banana is an “all-food" fruit because “it possesses —as no ether fruit possesses —the power to maintain life of itself." A scientist experimenting (o ascertain' its value in vitamins, of which there are three classes, demonstrated that the banana, alone among fruits, contains them all. Ho also found that, in addition to being neatly a quarter natural sugar, it contained cellulose, potassium phosphate, potassium carbonate—all for one penny! But if should be pointed out that in order to cbtain the full benefit of the banana j it should be eaten ripe, without a trace I of green on the skin, and should yield j 1o slight pressure by finger and thumb