The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1897-12-21
PROFITABLE BANANAS.
An Investment Which Brings in Re
markable Returns.

: |
markable Returns.
For persons of small capital, and al
those who desire a quick return fol
their investments, there is probably
no crop that will serve their purposes
like bananas. AS business banana
growing is extremely profitable, re-
quiring small outlay of capital and
giving quick and entirely reliable and
sure returns. There is no such thing
as failure in the banana crop.
The most important feature in ba-
mana raising is a location near the
coast or navigable river, where there
are cheap and certain transportation
facilities. Land suitable for the pur-
pose can be had in Mexico at from S.
to So per acre Mexican money, which
figures must be divided by two to re-
duce them to gold standard. Land
| which will raise bananas to perfection
can be had at from 81 to $3.50 per acre,
| only it is not available, as it is not
near the coast or upon a navigable
| stream; but choice location handy
to transportation facilities would war
rant paying $25 or even more per acre.
The Islands of Cozumel and Ruitan,
one on the coast of Yucatan, the other
on the coast of Honduras, are engaged
extensively in banana raising, which is
largely the support of the inhabitants.
Land on either of these islands or
similarly situated, with a good port for
loading, should outvalue land on the
mainland. In Honduras, Nicaragua or
Costa Rica favorable locations can be
found at lower figures than the price
of Mexican land
Bananas are not as perishable as
pineapples, mangoes and some other
tropical fruit. They bear transporta-
ton well, but few days nearer the
market makes quite a difference, not
only in freight, but from the fact that
the bananas then can be allowed to
mature more. One does not have to
cut them quite so green, and, therefore,
they attain better flavor, ripen more
evenly and give a more desirable and
salable product.
The banana is not tree, but rather
an herb, more after the character OF
Indian corn than tree. Each sprout
natures in a year, produces a bunch |
of bananas and is cut down. There are
few people who have not seen in some
hot house the banana plant, with its
long, bread, green leaves, and admired
its beauty; but banana grove once
seen is never to be forgotten.
There are several different varieties
of bananas. Some are plantains or
cooking bananas, which are served
fried, baked, boiled and in soups and
dressings; but of the sweet varieties
the large yellow and the red are most
known. A variety, known in Mexico
as the Costa Rica, is much liked.
In India there is a small, short va
riety, known as the "cheena chumpa,'
or sugar lump. They are small, but of
most excellent flavor.
The banana grows anywhere in Mex
leo, from sea level to an elevation of
5000 feet, but it thrives best on low and
alluvial land, and does well on quite
sandy land. The principal expense at
tendant upon banana raising is the
clearing and preparing the soil.
An acre Of ground will plant 1000
to $500 banana plants, costing SIS
each in Mexican money, or from $50
to SIS. With land at So per acre and
clearing and preparing at 81 more
one year from the planting an acre
will yield 1000 to 1900 punches of ba-
nanas worth 81 Mexican money or oft
en- more. Taking the lowest figures we
have $1,000, less the highest figures
S75-leaving 1925 per acre clear profit, !
or, still granting that the land on ac-
count of excellence of location has cost |
s25, there is 5000 profit, after paying |
for land, preparing. plants and all
On an outlay of 800 you have made |
profit of 5000, and, having your |
cleared land on hand, with sprouts |
from the roots of the old plants suffi- |
cient to plant three or four more acres,
you may raise another 1000 punches |
on the same acre at the end of another |
year.
These figures may surprise farmers |
in the temperate zone, and those who
are thinking Of investing in banana
farm may doubt them, but they are |
below the practical or practicable fig
ures, providing there are no losses from
failure Of transportation facilities.
Generally, these do not fail. In many
places the local market will consume
much of the crop, as the natives are
great eaters of bananas
Bananas are cheap food in the tenn
perate zone at present prices, but If
they were one-half less there would
certainly be double the consumption,
and at these prices there is still plenty |
of money in them.-Philadelp Rec
ord.