The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-25
FACTS ABOUT BANANAS.
WHERE TIE FRUIT COMES FROM
AND HOW 1T GROWS.

4 trail America and Many Men or Cap
ital Are Interested In Serving Us.
From. the Netc York Herald.
/ The only strictly American importing
industry, and one which cannot well be
taken away from the United States by any
foreign country. is the trade In bananas.
1t is one of the best known trades TO every
body in America, and at the same time as
little is known about where the fruit comes
from and how it is shipped as IL the fruit
belonged TO the strangest varieties which
reach this market Probably no trade has
received such strict attention or has shown
such rapid strides in the past few years as
this one. Strange as it may seem, while
bananas are shipped to no other country
but America, with the exception of the
Pacific Mail line of steamships there is not
an American vessel in the trade.
During the last year, from Jan. to Dec.
30, 12, $50, $50 punches of bananas reached
the United States. As it is estimated that
each bunch averaged 100 bananas, more
out the country last year, or sufficient to
allow every man, woman and child In
America TO have bad about twenty bananas
to eat. Placed end to end they would have
extended distance of more than three
times around the globe.
GROWTH OF ITS POPULARITY.
No fruit ever gained such widespread pop
ularity in so short time. Fifteen years
ago it was comparatively unknown except
in the large cities, and even there ii was only
supplied ia comparatively small quantities
to the largest hotels and among the wealth
Ter class of people.
The trade dates back in its incipiency to
about thlrty-five years ago. The first ba~
nanas that reached the United States were
from Baracoa.
At that time the natives of Baracoa aud
its neighborhood were raisers Of tobacco
principally. Most of the tobacco growers,
however, raised a few bananas on their
plantations for their own use. They were
not such yellow ones as are now shipped to
this country, however. They were of the
red variety, with a few small yellows,
which were then known as "Porgie" ba-
nanas.
Among the men who were interested in
growing tobacco at Baracoa was Spaniard
OF the name of Gomez. He was not only
interested in more than one tobacco pianta-
ton, but kept general store at Baracoa
and made a business OF bartering provisions
for tobacco. Occasionally farmer would
bring in from his plantation ten or dozen
punches of red bananas. These Mr.. Gomez
would give to the captain of vessel bound
for New York or New Orleans with instruc-
could get for them-a pair of shoes, clothing
or the like. The idea of shipping them to
sell was never thought of. The only vessels
from Baracoa at that time were schooners
and the voyage to New York usually occu-
pied from twelve to fifteen days At the end
OF such voyage it was usually found that
fully fifty per cent. of the bananas had de-
cayed.
GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS.
AISet seFerai JedIS VI sucn snlpunenIs Oue
Irult began 70 Do known among certain
cIasses VI Ir9iI uealers, ano su1ail oroers
mero leeuIneu ~ .ns oap.ains VI Lne para
COG sc a.o auu rue sne .raue N snaM an. way
eves vyids arsn for dntisbie Goods ,Iscad .' s
tariff of 20 Der cent. ad valoren on the fruit.
The orders from New York and New
Orleans became so numerous at Baraooa
that it taxed the farmers in the surrounding
country 10 supply them. Senior Gomez,
realizing that there was a ready market for
the fruit, set out to make feature of grow
ing It 1t was at this time that the first
schooner laden with a cargo exclusively of
bananas left Baracoa for New York
| Although more than so Der cent. of the
| fruit was unfit to sell after reaching its
destination. the remainder found ready
| sale and Welded a fair profit The trade
was established,
From tnis time until the nresent the trada
has increased every wear in sucb nronortions
| that II is almost inn6ossihla ar the nrasant
| time TO supnly the demand
| Moneyed men in this Cit finally became
| interested and three Arms in vested canitaI
| In the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of nlantations at Rara-
| Goa LARGE tracts Of Land voera hongbt ~,
trees were planted and continual 1ina IF
| donkavs Laden Nth the frnit was stratche6
| from fha nlantatiops to tha coast vvhsre ~ a
| sohooners Law read v IN receive the frI,it and
sail away.
| wban tho trada M Nav vorl, -a.ohod
| 0O0 hupcbas ~ bananas a WOOL, ~ 80
| thought Co be at its zenith. but it proved 10
have only Just begun.
vrrrow vApyprv nv rur man
T. s.e.s 4,-A
~ was u.suoveIeu at enis uine Chat ene
ysiiIm p.ansn.n oananas' suon as reacn Inc
MAJ 40. Low niaou,eu as ieeSe SIX months
sooner .nan sne leo ones auo Chag IN order
70 suppy S4o uo'nenu ~ mouIo oe more
Pronsaolt srow .ne yehow variety. ~
was LouLu " pe JUST rs inarAetaois as its
; oioS Srsa S Hsasn az n a qulee az Mgn
poe ane u.n 'e st ~ sne .,nie Oh !, ralsins
sne .l naa s Wy 70 sne srower .hs oIMerence
A WIG ~ loe, anu .S ~ was .nSu shae aseention
t maS kIven w sne sfo~ius VI tne ysiiows' OF
T T gre s as .nsS are hsow w N me treos.
| nlantad and soor tha clad ,Ta. .n noaey
grove of banana tresa
The season ~ the fruit "a fro,, Msroh + -
June / and the farmers nIantad the tra a ~ ~