The Banana

Most of our readers must have no ticed this season the greatly increased quantities of bananas in the markets of our cities f or sale. This fruit is imported from Cuba, where a large imount of capital has been invested in ets cultivation for the American markets. The taste for it has to be f ostered Oy throwing large quantities of fruit on the leading markets at low prices, and the arrangements for forcing the retail trade require considerable tact and skill. The taste for oranges is natural and reqmred no forcing ; but the imports of oranges became so great that the importers had to resort to a variety of expedient to créate the machinery for an extended retail trade. As the result, they are now sold in summer about the streets from carts like apples and other fruits. But the banana is not much behind it. It is not only to be found in our confectionery stores, but also in our grocery stores, and is huckstered about the streets with oranges, and there is a constant and growing demand for it. But the production in Cuba is increasing at such a rate that next season we shall in all probability find it pushed in a variery of ways not before attempted. The process of making a market for this foreign fruit is a curious one for observation and full of instruction for our own agricultural anc liorticultural interestc, for doubtless il American grapes were pushed into sale with the same determination and en ergy, the markets would be muel greater and the cultivators would be more prosperous. South Jersey has an unlimited capacity for producing grapes, and all that seems to be want ing to give to this culture a general Ímpetus in that región is the organization of some po wei ful mercantile in terest in Philadelphia to market al the grapes that can be raised. Al though the banana comes to us as for eign fruit, it grows luxuriously ii florida, andcould be raised there into the proportion of a great erop. No Loubt this cuitare wiu take root and lourtsh there as soon as the taste for he lniitshall havebecomepermanenty diílused throughout the country under the energetic stimulus of the jUban operators. The taste for this 'ruit seems to bc much like that for he tomato, not natural but acquired. t is a great deal less trouble to eat han the apple, the pear or the orange, s quite healthful in its influence, and pleasant in its llavor. If the culture )f the banana could be permanently esablished in Florida on a large scaïe, it might in time become not only an exensive artical of domestic consumpion a i over the countrv. but also