From 800 trees, which was the average daily quantity manipulated by Messrs. Price and Lacey, the yield was as follows :—Clean fibre, one ton ; waste, half ton ; tow, half ton ; while the cost of production was Rs. 52 :--800 stems at Rs. 2 = Rs. 16 ; cartage, Rs. 16 ; 40 coolies, for cutting, splitting, washing, drying, packing, etc., Rs. 10 ; fuel for engine, Rs. 5 ; sundries, Rs. 10.
The superintendent of the Calcutta Botanic Garden has found that, during the dry months, simple exposure of the sliced stem to the sun is sufficient to prepare the fibre for the paper-maker, provided the paper-mill be on the spot. What is still wanted is a cheap method of removing the cellular tissue, which contains a large quantity of sap, and is useless for paper-making, so that when shipped on the voyage to England there may be no risk of fermentation.
On the Arakan coast, the layers of the stem of the plantain, termed there Pa-tha-you-sha, are sold in a dried state ; some of it is even twisted into a bast rope. It would probably command a good price as a cordage or paper material, or for textile fabrics.
The leaves are used in regimental hospitals, for dressing parts that have been blistered.
The meal is prepared by stripping off the husk the fruit, slicing and thoroughly drying the re in the sun, after which it is powdered and •fted. It has a fragrant odour, and its flavour is id to depend a good deal on the rapidity by Inch the slices are dried. It should be husked 1 id sliced by nickel or bamboo knives, as those f steel injure the colour of the meal. It is'
'ciliated that the fresh plantain will yield 40' er cent. of meal, that an average bunch of ' _5 lbs. weight will yield 5 lbs., and that an acre ' of plantain walk of average quality producing 450 bunches during the year, would yield upwards of a ton of meal. In the W. Indies plantain meal is largely employed as the food of infants, chil dren, and convalescents. In composition the plantain fruit approaches most nearly in nutritive quality to the potato, and the meal of the plant to that of rice.
Rice. Potato. Plantain.
Starch, sugar, etc., . . 79.0 86'0 Protein compounds, . 7'5 8'0 5'2 The varieties which are rich in saccharine matter make an admirable preserve, on being skinned and split longitudinally and dried in the sun, by which process they immediately acquire a consistence like Turkey figs, and become capable of being packed and preserved in the same way.
In S. America, the fruit is not only used as an article of diet in its fresh state, but, when dried, forms an article of internal trade, besides having its flour separated, and cooked or made into biscuits. It is also preserved in the Society Islands.
The skins of the fruit are used by the tanners in dyeing leather black. — Surgeon T. Key iu Proceedings of the Madras Committee; Madras Ez. Jur. Rep. ; Royle's Fib. Pl. ; Simmonds' Com. Prod.; Dr. A. Hunter in Al. E. Proceedings; Mason's Tcnasserim ; Dr. 211`Clelland in Records of the Government of India ; Dr. King in Report of Calcutta Ag.-Hort. Gard.