The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-10-06
RUNNING A BANANA FARM.
HOW THE FRUIT is RAISED ON
COSTA RIGA PLANTATIONS.

Preparing the Land for the Seed
No PIow or Harrow Needed
Harvesting the Crop.
Fifteen years ago the State of Costa
Rica was covered, save some shallow
belts along the coast, by dense prim-
eval forests. Very little was known of
the interior except what was told now
and then by some hardy adventui er. The
natives on the eastern coast cultivated
little else than plantains and cocoa, and
exported dyewoods. The government
saw the necessity of opening up the in
terror, and connecting by rail the eastern
and western sides of the State. A con-
tract was made with Mr.. Minor G. Keith,
of Brooklyn, N. Y, to build railroad
from Port Limon, on the east, to San
Jose, the capital Of the State. 1t was a
giant undertaking. The immense for
est had to be cut down, and great diff
Guilty was experienced in procuring
laborers who could withstand the trying
climate of the lowlands.
Fifteen years ago the road was com
menced and seventy miles are now in
operation. The trains run from Port
Limon to Cartago, over a splendid road
bed, crossing thirty iron bridges, all
made in the Unittd States. Fifty miles
yet remain to complete the line to San
Jose, and there will then be an outlet for
the products of the highlands to the
eastern coast. 1t is estimated that
300, 900 sacks of coffee are annually
raised on the western side, and that
traffic will be diverted to the Atlantic
from the Pacific Ocean.
The cultivation of bananas began about
six years ago on the lowlands, and now
all the land along the line of railroad,
one mile wide, is taken up by banana
farms, majority of which are owned by
citizens of the United States. Each farm
is one mile square, the land having been
purchased for so manzana-about one
acle and half of our land measurement.
There are now about 150 square miles
under profitable cultivation.
1t is only necessary, to cultivate the
banana in Costa Rica, to cut down the
forest, and then the land is ready to re-
ceive the seed. The plow and the har-
row are unknown. The trees are allowed
to lie where they fall. What is called
the banana sucker, u bulb resembling an
onion, is planted about eighteen inches
deep and from fifteen to eighteen feet
apart in among the fallen trees.
At the expiration of nine months the
banana plant has reached height of tif
teen feet, and bears one bunch of fruit.
Fifteen or twenty of these plants or trees
in various stages of development are seen
at once sprouting from the same ''sucle-
er," bearing fruit successfully the year
round for from seven to ten years from
the first planting. Along the river
banks, where the soil is renewed, they
bear twenty years from the first plant
ing.
When the bananas are ready to cut
farmer who cultivates mile square Of
land will take about forty men, five of
whom are regular cutters, and the others
convey the punches out to the cars in
mule and OK carts as fast as they are cut.
In day and half the crop is harvested
The laborers are all Jamaica negroes and
natives, who receive $1.25 per day for
their work.
After the bananas are loaded on the
train, they are taken to Port Limon,
placed on vessel and brought to New
York. From this city they are shipped
to Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago and as
far south as jacksonville, Fla.--Ne,0
York Star.