The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-08-25

Of a load OF bananas in transit. Spe-
cially constructed wagons and carts
are used in Jamaica for conveying ba-
nanas over the country roads. They
are made with springs. and are fitted
with high sides and ends, as light and
open as possible These vehicles are
exceedingly strong as well as light.
The wagons will accommodate 100
stems of bananas, equal to three tons,
and the carts about a third of that
quantity.
| When the journey has to be perform
ed partly by rail, the bananas are
brought to the station and transferred
to the cars with the same amount oil
watchfulness and care as before. Trash
is again used and the work of loading
is undertaken almost entirely by the
buyers agents.
SHIPPING ARRANGEMENTS.
In putting bananas af1oat. the main
features consist in heading and
shouldering'' the stems from the sheds
on the wharves into the holds of the
ship-combined with the smart work
done by the expert checkers, under
whose eyes every individual bunch lln-
dergoes final inspection. These fruit
vessels also pick up fruit around the
coast. when the bananas have to be
handled from shore to ship in boats of
various kinds. In the steamers bound
for the United States the fruit is stow
ed on simple racks or binns without
any trash whatever and the holds are
specially ventilated only. The compar-
atively short voyage of four and
half of five days does not call for any
other treatment, but with the boats
to Bristol and Manchester, England,
cool storage on the most approved
principle is provided. Mr.. Smith says:
Il do not think that many Jamaica
bananas are Grated. A system of care,
that is never relaxed from start to
finish, would seem to take the place
of any such precautions, which are not
only costly but go to reduce the carry
ing capacity of the ships holds. I
was told that in vessels properly in
stalled with cool chambers no Grating
is necessary, not even trash
ESTIMATE OF PROFITS.
In his concluding remarks, Mr.. Smith
has the following to say on the profits
Trinidad might expect from the ba-
mana industry, and people in Hawaii
considering his remarks must bear in
mind the conditions of careful hand
ling and carrying he lays down:
II am nevertheless convinced that
the growing of bananas for the Eng
lish and American markets might pro-
fltably be undertaken in this colony,
disregarding altogether the examples I
have quoted of profits made in Jamai
ca. Personally, l should be satisfied to
take those figures at so per cent, dis
count when there would still be left
a net yield of e5 (about $3.50 per acre.
1t is an axiom in Jamaica that moth
ing responds so readily to good cul-
tivation as bananas, and over a short
series of years an average estate will
give just about double what is spent
upon it, all other things being equal"
SUGGESTIONS FOR HAWAIIAN
GROWERS.
The marketable condition of bananas,
both as to variety, size and flavor, is
a subject which might well occupy the
attention of some of our agriculturalist,
and more particularly those who make
it a special business to raise this fruit
for shipment to the Mainland. Much
has been said of late regarding the
Importation of the "Bluefields'' variety.
but so far little is known here as to
it's adaptability to the requirements of
dealers in California, where all of our
product is now shipped The Board of
Commissioners, through the assistance
of the Federal Government, has OBJ
tanned a consignment of this variety
which will be distributed to such local
tiles and to such agriculturalists as
will ensure their careful propagation,
preparatory to final distribution of the
suckers. OF bananas now grown here,
the Chinese variety (Musa CavenaishiD !
predominates, shipments to the Coast
being practically all of this species. No |
great s4tort has seemingly been made !
70 produce, in any appreciable quanti- |
ty, the Well known varieties already
established here such as the Brazilian, |
Red or Golden, Sugar. Ladies' Fingers, |
Apple, ETC., and the possibilities of |
shipping special varieties, such as
these, might result probably to the |
grower if a little more attention We're |
paid to selection and cultivation. Most |
of the cultivation and production at |
this time is in the hands of Chinese
iaborers or planters, who either ship !
on their own account or are planting /
on shares with the white land holder |
or produce agent. Very little care is
given to the production of large fruit, !
or in experimenting with new varieties |
1t is therefore possible that with bet |
ter cultivation. as well as selection of /
varieties, the industry may become !
much more profitable than it is said to I
be at the present time.
FERTILIZATION OF BANANAS |
Referring to cultivation, some ex- |
cel1ent results have been obtained in |
Madeira Zone of the ports shipping |
large quantities of the fruit proftably |
to England and elsewhere) by manur-
ing the trees with commercial fertil- !
zers at little expense, and in such
manner as to increase the size of the
srIIit nd h. E1,r,ol,..s.