New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-17
PJNEAPPLES AND BANANAS.
OPENING OF THE ACTIVE SEASON OF M
ORTATION-1NiMENSE ANNUAL RE-
CEIPTS- SOURCES OF SUPPLY
CONDITIONS IN CUBA

iONDl lONN IN ttbt
AND FLORIDA.
Pineapples 81 the crop of 1876 have been coming
to this city slowly since March 1. when the annual
importing season opehed. Those thus far received
came from Havana. and the receipts have been
small up 10 date The early invoices consisted Of
small green fruit. which sold at wholesale for
from s. 10 SIG a hundred. Later receipts were OF
larger and more mature fruit. which WAS sold for
from s. TO s20 hundred. Larger and ripper fruit
will be received in heavier shipments as the
advances. Tho annual season extends from March
to August l. receipts being large about the middle
of April and the frIit coming In freely In the sue
ceeding months In the active season Of 1875. about
100000 pineapples received In this city The
pineapple supply for this market has hitherto como
mainly from Havana. the Bahama Islands and
Florida.
The supply from Havana this season. II is feared.
smay be cut off to a considerable extent on account
Of the cuban war. although no difficulty has been
experienced In obtaining shipments up the present
time. only nominal supplies expected from
Florida. She pineapple crop and plants having been
destroyed extensively by the cold storms that
swept over that State nearly fifteen months ago.
The Bahama crop. which begins TO arrive about one
month later than that from Havana however. is re-
ported to be large despite recent destructive hur-
ricane and IL Is hoped that It may he sufficiently
extensive 10 offset any deficiency IN the Havana
Florida crops At the time Of the devastating
apples, and tbs quantity annually grown Was rapidly
increasing. FLORIDA r.neappes sre regarded a.
among the finest grown. and variety. known ~
the Ripley Queen which Is produced along tho
Indian River is especially luscious and readily com
mands from So TO 81 hundred AT wholesale ac-
cording the size and condition 81 The fruit Choice
Bahama pineappIes usually sold in mid season
for from 81 81 a hundred
Some Of the largest and finest pneapples grown
ir the world come from the Azores Islands. In IN"
fall hut the supply is limited and the fruit l. easily
sold for from ~ 81 Is each according to tho
size and condition.
BANANA IMPORTS AND SOURCES or SUP
PLY.
The active banana season. which begins In March
and extends 10 August !. is now opening Bananas
are regarded the one species Of fore gn fruit
which Is sure To he in this market every month IN
the year. although by far tho heave=; mportatlons
made during the active season just Indicated
The total imports OF bananas have now averaged.
during the past SIX years. nearly 100000 hunches
6unches The receipts at this port in 1875 were
v.ous year. For the first TWO months OF this year
the receipts at this port were $4,000 lunches agans,
$4,000 lunches in the corresponding two months OF
last year. and 1t is estimated this basis that the
total receipts at al ports Of the country this year.
The banana supply Of this country comes mainly
from Baracoa. jamaica. Port Limon and Guatc-
mala. cargoes OF from l5CvD 500 bunrnrs each
being transported by large feet OF steamships
constructed especially for the carrying OF fruit.
California receives considerable supply OF bana
mas from the Hawaiian Islands
New York formerly received more bananas an
nualy than either New-Orleans. Philadelphia. Bos-
ton. Baltimore. or Montreal Canada. which arc the
other principal receiving ports. Since 1855, however
ew-Orleans. which largc'y supplies the Southern
and Western markets, has far outsripped all other
ports The prestige gained by the Crescent city is
attributed to the superior wharf and railroad facili-
ties in that city. where freighcars approach within
fifty feet OF the banana laden steamships The
freight trains have from twenty 10 thirty ears each.
and the cars are loaded they are hur-
ried 10 their destinations the trains on account OF
their perishabe freight. being given the right of
way passenger trains. During the active
season the receipts In NewYork frequently exceed
10000 punches o week, and several cargoes. agsre-
gazing from 50C 10 5000 punches. metimes
sold al pubic auction in single day
Bananas are classed "frsts, seconds and
thirds" hut these designations simply Indicate the
size Of the punches. and have no reference TO the
quality of the fruit. The number OF bananas
in a bunch OF ''nrsts' Is from i9s TO ln ana In
seconds about half as many. the quantity IN
a bunch OF thirds, being proportonate'y Jess less,
The present wholesale price Of bananas IA IRON
a. cents TO 81 Is bunch for "frsts.' the price OF
:'seconds'' and thirds being In proportion me
fruit however. Is extremely perishabe: ana souhu
bananas often command much higher prices