Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-04-13
uHERE rHE BAsAAA GgoTs.

How the Fruit Is Itaised, ana Something
About the Trade.
New York Post.
That bananas are at present abundant
in New York is apparent to every one
who walks about the town. They are
somewhat lower in price than hereto
fore. One can buy at a street corner
two fair bananas, with their skins per-
haps u tritle bruised, but sound and
sweet within for one cent. For nickle
one can get three MS fine specimens al
can be desired Assuredly, the buyer
does not thus disburse his petty coins
from u motive of benevolence, but un
consciously he aids thereby some la
borer away in Central America, or on
the Spanish Main, or among the At
lantic islands of the tropics. 1t may
be that the purchaser has had tho
good fortune to eat the fruit under
one Of the immense leaves Of the plant
which bears it.
There are in the leading Atlantic
seaports of the United States 90 inn
porters of bananas who deal in nothing
else, and who, with millions invested
in their business, import IL, 1000, 600
punches of bananas every year. A
single importer in New York has this
year imported $500, 600 punches. These
| imports are shipped from Limon, 10
| Costa Rica from Santa Marta, in the
| United States of Columbia; from
SANTANA, in Hayti, but most of all from
| the island Of Jamaica. Among the
agricultural interests of that island the
| cultivation of the banana is said to be
| third in Importance, being surpassed
by the sugar cane and coffee alone.
More than nine per cent of the titled
land of Jamaica is devoted to the
cultivation of bananas. In the year
ending March, 1883, there were ship
ped from Jamaica alone 4,S35, 6l5
punches, which brought f302, 4l5.
These punches, of which each plant
bears one or more, hold from 200 to
300 bananas each. They weigh some-
times as much as so or even 100 pounds.
The planters do not allow the fruit to
ripeu on the tree. 1t is gathered before
it is ripe, while it is still green in
color, and the stem Immediately there
after is cut down to the ground; where
upon the round dubious root stock
sends up ut once new leaves, and u
second plant natures and bears fruit.
With proper management plantation
yields fruit every month in the year,
Thus, the half dozen steamers which
bring the fruit to the United States
run constantly from January to Janu-
airy, having their holds slowed to the
full with punches, unlocked and with
out covering of any kind The fruit
ripens on the voyage or soon after its
arrival. In its unripened condition it
contains much starch, but on ripening
the starch, by the subtle chemistry of
nature, is converted into sugar.
/ Of the bananas brought hither few
are exported to Europe, but the greater
part find their way all over the United
States, being sold Thy the importers
to jobbers, by the carload. OF the
bananas consumed in this city, more
than so per cent are sold by street
corner vende and from pushcarts.
These humble tradesmen. therefore,
are not TO be despised, since they are
; important factors in the distribution Of
an article which ministers Of the we'll
/ being of numerous inhabitants. On
some islands of the Pacific tho inhabi-
! tauts live on bananas exclusively, and
: breed race of tail, strong men. Hum
| bodt says that the same land which
produces 1000 pounds Of potatoes will
/ yield $4,000 pounds of bananas, and
that surface bearing wheat enough to
j feed one man will, when planted with
+ bananas, feed -. The varieties Of
{ bananas cultivated in the tropics are
7 said TO be as numerous as the varieties
/ OF apples in temperate regions. There
is u red-skinned variety, which formerly
t was seen frequently in Now York. OF
: this there is now only limited supply.
4 Those which come here are bought
/ principally to decorate luncheon and
dinner tables. In the matter of taste
: this variety is in no way superior to
1 the common yellow sort, but the red
. tint is thought more ornamental and to
Q add to tho appearance of fruit dish,
. filled with different sorts OF fruits.