The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-23

the clmate and the soil will do the rest.
The natives have always let the crops take
care of themselves The Americans have
gone at the planting in scientific way and
the soil is made 10 yield all il can. We
get our moneys worth. Two years from
now the Americans Will control the entire
banana market In Honduras, If not every
where"
That might result in banana trust2':
asked the reporter.
Call it that way if you like" was the
reply.
And that will mean a rise in the prices7'
well, yes. we do expect better prices
and just banana inspection. As things
stand now we are somewhat at the mercy
of the examiners. Ii is this way: A planter
makes contracts with a wholesale firm that
will buy his entire output, no matter
whether large or small. In the height of the
fruit seasons I'm the States people eat other
fruit. such as berries. peaches etc
I'm order TO prevent being overstocksd the
buyers throw out large quantities OF good
bananas from our shipments as spoiled,
and the result IL that the invoices shrink
down TO an alarming degree. This will be
stopped when the combine goes into ef-
feet
There is a small amount OF jealousy on
the part of one or two German firms down
there. i cannot understand why the Ger
mans, who are considered as good, IL not
better, citizens than any foreigners I'm the
United States, evince such bitter feeling
toward the Americans In Honduras We
are doing all we can socially to obliterate
such conditions, but make poor progress.
The Germans are second In number 10
Americans, but will never cut a figure OF
any consequence I'm the banana business.
While being entertained by several OF his
friends at the Normandie Mr.. Brewer re-
lated how the banana is planted and vari-
Gus interesting things about the country
and it's inhabitants.
HOW BANANAS GROW.
The banana PALM or as the planter calls
it. stock" is very short lived. AS soon
as one crop is cut from the palm the stem
is felled, cut into bits and left ON the
ground to ferment, which makes an ex-
cellent fertilizer IL ferments in most in
credibly short time. The banana palm has
no root like that of ordinary trees but A
bulb studded with eyes similar TO those
of the potato.
These eyes are picked from the old bulb
and planted Thus there is no expense a.
TO seeding after the first crop The eye
will sprout I'm one or two days and a fifteen-
foot palm sways In the wind heavily laden
with bananas ten months afterward. The
quality OF the banana depends entirely upon
the quality OF the soil. No other fertilizer
than the rotten stems is ever used
Mr.. Brewer. whose interests are shared
by NJ. B. Mills. of the Michigan stove
works, states that his plantation comprises
5000 acres and that village with thirty
natives. several OF whom are married. IL To-
Gated upon his land. Labor is cheap and
the natives live chiefly upon plantains. a
fruit much similar 20 the banana, but
coarser, and twice large.
There is no danger OF n rush of settlers 10
the Honduras banana country, he states.
everything worth having Is bought up
by the Americans The entire country Is a
Mecca for cattle and Cuba Is being RAPIDLY
restocked from Honduras since the ravages
of the late war. Mexico. Guatemala and
Nicaragua are constantly importing cattle
from Honduras. ''The grass simply melta
i'm the bulls mouth. said the returned
planter. and no care Is required OF the
live stock"
The Sula valley Is four miles wide on the
average aud the country h dotted with hills
and some mountains bat none over f.eD
feet I'm height. \ .manzana." which H. a
Spanish measure OF land equal 10 about
one acre aud three-quarters. will support
ten head of cattle.
Volcanoes DO not exist i'm the banana dis
trlct. and the contrast between the rich
Honduran soil and that OF the United States
made Mr.. Brewer remark 10 travelling
companian I'm the train: Great Scott.
though 1 always believed the United States
n fine country. 4 do really think that there
Is no soil here in comparison with that OF
Honduras. where the banana comes FROM"