Banana cultivation at Carnarvon

THE banana is claimed by some authorities to be the first fruit ever used by man. Indeed, it is so widely scattered throughout the tropical countries of the world that it is very difficult to name its centre of origin. For centuries it has been regarded as one of the most useful fruits for treating patients with digestive ailments, and over the last few decades it has been recommended by doctors, particularly for infants. Although the protein content of bananas is low, the sugars of the ripened fruit are present in a most useful form, and the vitamin content, by comparison with other fruits, is of quite a high level