The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1874-07-18
About the Banana Trade.

ton of bananas into the United states mas
grown to large proportions, and the de-
mand for this delicious fruit is steadny On
the increase. Thirty years ago 1t was rare
that few punches were brought to New
York by some West India trader, and only
the more fashionable fruit-stores ventured
to keep them for sale when other fruit was
scarce. Now the banana has become
necessity in the fruit market. 1t is asked
for at all seasons of the year. in many
cases the taste for it is acquired, but once
acquired it is lasting. The poor as well as
the rich are its purchasers. Great golden
and red punches hang in the windows OF
Broadway stores, and at the same ume
they are sold singly at corner stalls and by
wandering peddlers. This tropical fruit
has become as common in the eyes OF the
children of to-day as the orange and the
apple, and it is quite as wholesome as
either. The banana is imported from the
islands of Cuba, Jamaica and San Domln-
go, and from Aspinwan and the country
adjacent to the Isthmus of Panama. The
impOrtations from the West Indies for
1873 comprised 231, 1873 punches, and from
Aspinwall 62,525 punches, giving total
of 3O3.S98 punches. There was an in
crease of 10000 punches in the importa-
tons from Kingston, Jamaica, and OF
%, 8S5, over 1872, from Aspinwall. At
the same time there was a falling off OF
Isl, 4l2 punches in the importations from
Baracoa. The reason of this change in the
direction of the trade is that the Pacific
Mail steamships leave Aspinwall twice
month regularly for New York,
touching at Kingston. and have been
fitted up especially for this business.
They bring large cargoes and find it very
remunerative. On the last voyage Of the
Acapulco she brought over 5000 punches
and received over 5000 in freight. But
the steamers are not always so fortunate.
On a recent voyage the Henry Chauncey
went ashore at Kingston, was aground
four days in that hot climate, and her en-
tire cargo was spoiled. The steamship
companies, however, got their freight. but
the mouths of New Workers. were left to
whistle for their usual supply offruit. The
yellow banana is rapidly taking the place
of the red in our markets, Notwithstanding
there is an expressed preference for the
latter. The red is larger, and when fully
ripened is more delicious, but it is also
more expensive to import and handle. The
red banana comes principally from Bara-
Goa, in the Island of Cuba; the yellow,
chiefly from the Isthmus of Panama. The
| punches of the yellow banana are much
larger, running from 100 to 200 bananas on
| single stalk. The punches of the red sell
dom number over seventy. The fruit
dealer who buys for the importers in New
| York finds that he can purchase 200 prime
yellow bananas for less than the sum he
must pay for seventy-five of the red. So,
while ne purchases few punches OF the
red fruit to crafty the fastidious and veal
thy, he buys extensively of the South
American species for general sale and for
| l.
| ing off of imports from Baracoa during the
past year. The establishment of extensive
banana plantations in the vicinity OF AS
pinwall and Panama, and the regularity OF
accommodation for exporting, have almost
DESTROYED the West India trade. The inn
portations from Aspinwall this year will
nearly double those of 1873.
The plantation is picturesque sight.
| The banana tree grows to height OF from
ten to twelve feet, and sends out broad
green leaves that curve gracefully and Ia
per beautifully from the crown of the tree,
From the center of the stalk single bunch
of bananas juts out and bends the trunk in
its direction as it increases in weight. The
fruit takes about eight months to reach
maturity, but when exported it is cut in a
green state and ripened artiticiaily In New
York. The tree bears but "a single bunch
Then it is cut down, but new stalk starts
immediately from the root. and there is no
necessity for planting anew. Only when
the parent root has stretched itself out by
innumerable new shoots it is necessary to
divide it up for transplanting. The dusky
individual who has the place in charge is
not burdened with labor. It is only nee
cessary for him to keep his fences of wild
cactus in order and to keep down the weeds
The sun and frequent showers do all the
rest. Meanwhile he can swing at ease in
his hammock in his bamboo hut, thatcheG
with palm, and calmly wait the advent Of
"steamer day." When that important
event arrives, and it is necessary to cut the
punches, everything is activity itself. A
large force pours into the fields to handle
the harvest, carry the punches to the small
cars, and pack them away tenderly aboard
ship. At the wharf, too, the scene is
strange. From every nook along the coas
dug-outs and small trading vessels come
from many miles away with cargo of two
or three or twenty punches. Their pro
prietors ale half naked, rugged, black ant
yellow men, who pass their lives IN littl
tain sides. House and land cos
them nothing; a years clothing cal
be gotten by weeks work food is a
hand on land and in the water, to be hat
for the taking. and the punches of banana
raised on their clearings buy them thei
. luxuries of whisky and tobacco. 1t is al
easy life-only one remove above thei
; neighbor, the sloth, who disputes witt
them possession of the territory. There i
one species of the banana which is neve
imported into this country, though
J would be if its merits were known. 1t
called the fig banana, and is only about hal
the size of the ordinary fruit, being abou
as large as mans thumb. But it is a de
licious morsel. The traveller makes &C
quaintance with it first at Mendocin, tn
midway station on the Panama Railroad
buying at the rate of ten for five cents.
he makes any stay on the isthmus he vii
always find it on the tables of those wht
, live well. The fruit-dealers there say
however, that it will not pay to expor
} these fig bananas, as people at the Nortl
: would think they did not get the value o
their money in quantity. They woul'
cost as much to export as the others. TIL
bunch of bananas costs the shipper on
dollar in gold, laid down in the vessel