BANANAS FOR FRESH FRUIT

Shannon News, 17 April 1928, Page 1

BANANAS FOR FRESH FRUIT

POSSESSES ALL FOODS TO 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 1901 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 Indies, 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 convey to England every month over 1,000,()06 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 Colum* bus. The suggestion has been put forward that 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 80 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 genius to be found in China. Whatever the origin of the. banana, however, its fame has spread to the four quarters of the globe. And rightly , 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 other fruit possesses—the power to maintain life of itself.” A scientist experimenting to ascertain its value in vitamins, of which there are three classes, demonstrated that the banana, alone among fruits, contains them all. He al£o found that, in addition to being nearly a quarter natural sugar it contained Cellulose, potassium phosphate, potassium carbonate—all for one ; penny! But in should be pointed out that in ordor to ' obtain the full benefit of the banana ■it should be eaten ripe, without a trace of green on the skin, and should yield to slight prossure by finger “and thumb.