Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-16
FACTS ABOUT BANANAS.
Where the Luscious Fruit Come. Froua--Ths
Washington Market

""ene 'he Luscious Fruit Comes Fron--Ths
Washington Market
VNHERE Is ONE FOREIGN PRODUCT
= that is not affected by the Mckinley bill
aad tarf retormers Of both political parties
are content 20 leave IL on the free list II 10
the banana. and moro Of this lusciou. fruit 10
consumed in the United States than in any
country in the world. Neutrality-suspicious. are
great lovers OF bananas and IL is said that moro
bananas are sold in his city than in Now York.
bananas come mostly from Baracoa, q small
seaport town IN Cuba. which claims the die
nneiion Of being the center II the large fruit
trade with the United States. They also come
nom AspinwaA. Jamaica and other tropicsl
critics Twenty WARS ago bananas we're very
hite known in this country The firs, big
cargo that came 20 tie United States landed
at New York in March. 1870. and previous 20
that tine the bananas which found their vav
into our markets came along with other frr,it
- tle Semahd became 80 great that t VA. de-
termlnee 10 send over a ship laden e.rlnsixely
with bananas. The first shipment. Will, v,,li.
ihs ia4r proht. was disastrous. Over "a nor
cent rosied on the long journey. The growers
began 10 look about for better vay TO trans
port t3e fruit, u was evident thar n ,ba
business was expected 70 paw shorter journey
was absolutely necessary. Snnn,n.l too[
tie initiative and chartered a fast American
merchant vessel, which 10 loaded with honsnas
and dispatched TO New lork When N rr1ne
TO DE unicaced u was found thrt not NOR. tan
D per eeat OF the fruit had spoiled T,,s vs.
the BEGINNING OF a bag business. More and
faster ships were secured and farmers in M.
Topics and capitalists in fn4s cuuutfy turned
tne.r attention and money 10 Tie systenlatic
culture OF the banana
TWO v.RlxrIEs
There are two ragiete. shinpaa 20 tb,s oo,,-
he .V..
rec s'unpy species. The former. however !.
10y Tar the more popular. for in addition 10
oeinS Cheaper, II Is ga aiur t. RAISE ana r,,.n.
much sooner than the other Bauanss are
SAitped ai- The year round, but are At their
oest dariiS iao early sIrIug, and from Mach
- vune may DO said 10 be The season ior tas
best fruit. 'N '-S
One OF the peculiar facts Atout the b,,.,. .,
that bas ole buEch grows on a tree, lie
lruit Is cur when green and then the trees are
cur Gown 20 the ground. They sf,rout alraost
nnineulateiy- and IN a short time bear again.
al % we bananas when come 10 tLis country
are shipped IN greUa state. Itey are t-.,ts-
ported from the farms t. lie coast on. the la,ls
OF ilttie PACK donkeNs. One dogker can AIRY
from one % six punches, according 10 NJ -
oi ne punches and the distance il hos 10
travel w
The local banana market is ON Louisiana AVA
nue. IN .he wholesale block
VISIT 10 rnE BANANA MARKET.
reporter OF IHE STAR visited one Of the e.
adjustments recently TO investigate de M H.
obs employed by the dealers an ripeuiu, LA
fruit. The bananas were found in large cell
iar IN nFe dlnorent rooms. There were thou-
SANDS OF punches hanging from the ceiling Az
CLOSE together as the space wound per-
niii ana all an different stages of ripenyss.
INC hfst room was hilod with bananas ready TO
De eaten, or as the dealer put It. full ri,e. In.
temperature IN thls room was kept al aln,, -
degrees and with this Temperature they can ~.
kept Tor three or four dasS. After t,,at tl,y
COMMENCE TO rot ana must be sold Mt once. In
ahother room was found hundreds of bananas
i iii tne mrs stages oil rlpeniRg. Here the tenn
peiatGre ranges from % to 20 degrees ana tho
Dig punches were beginning to chow sis,us II
fipenlhs- III takes From three g. four aavs 10
thoroughly rlpen green bunch OF bananas
In reply to the reporters question tae dealer
stated INA. lhere was no regular price for the
iFuL livery lining depended upon the supply
anu the weather. bunch OF nice ripe ba-
nahas Was worth at this time about IS cents
Inc numbe- OF bananas on a bunch range from
i2o to i15, and the retail price is auyvhere
from ~ cents peck TO 70 cents dozen. The
AspinwaH fruit seems TO be the most porulAr.
anu whlle the reporter was examining tie iruit
several dealers came In and made purchases
Iney were the Representatives of the travelling
frult stands that are TO be seen at every street
corner during the year retailing the MICA ripa
bRnan." they were retleuist,I1, tb,.,r 80 =,
trade.
'How do you like the banana busiues.Y'
asked the reporter OF one of them a. the latter
was carefully examining one of the lunches
vera gooda SOMA time, il vera much de.
pend upona de weather. j sella more banAn in
e .. ID ei' can In New York, ona day sellA
iva abunch, den again / sella not more dana
two. liza de sun is hot dc banau At spoil. De
ladies iikka de baEan vera much, but de men
no hkka much