Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-15
$780, 100000 Annually
in Fina, Fresha Banan

in Fina, FreSha Banan
IroN'T look with contempt upon the
Dago man who engineers the push
- cart and calls out. "Fina, fresha da
banan, onla five centa dozen.'' He is do
ing his part in making worth to the re-
| tail trade of the United States a business
| of 100000 day, or over $60,0OO.0O0 an
| nually, for that is the tremendous sum
now recognized as coming from the sales
of bananas, the vegetable wonder of the
world, the golden fruit of the tropics, the
cultivation of which is simply an occupa-
ton for the promotion of laziness, but
| with an ironclad certainty of immense re-
turns of wealth.
The quantity of bananas now consumed
in the United States is surprising, the
figures from the bureau of statistics show
ing that during the year ended June 80,
1907. imports of bananas the sums paid
growers. bananas being duty free amount
ed to s11 500, 16s. divided:
Central American states and British
British NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Indies. Isl sic
south America NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 16i ,Oo4
other countries. 43I, $50
These sums exceed the value of imports
1908 by 81 .935.347. yet still the demand for
the fruit of gold' is constantly larger
than the supply, Notwithstanding the fact
that they are brought into the United
States free of duty.
A little more than four decades ago the
! banana was entirely unknown in this
country and there was practically none for
export from its native countries until a
| little ginger was thrown into their culti-
walton by enterprising Americans. Years
ago some men-Americans, of course
| bought cargo of bananas on the coast
of Honduras paying II cents a bunch, and
brought them to the United States. The
cargo was rapidly sold at an immense
profit, and this was the beginning of a
great industry-an industry spreading out
at jumps of more than $1,550.0OO yearly
Only a very few years ago the banana
was regarded as luxury, but now 1t is
known to possess all the essentials for the
sustenance of human life and is regarded
as a most valuable article of food, becom-
ing one of the necessities of life. The de-
mand and consumption of the banana
must increase, for it can be converted
into -four making bread as palatable and
substantial as that made of corn or wheat,
and can be used In pastry, pies, cakes,
buildings, etc. Delicious CONNECTIONS and
sauces Of various kinds can be made from
the fruit. and 1t can be dried and still
retain all the qualities of the fresh fruit.
The banana has been used for ages by
the natives Of the tropics for these pur-
poses, but not until within the past few
years have those directly interested and
engaged in the traffic of food products
realized the Importance of this part of the
value of the banana. Now packers, gro
GERS, confectioners and commissioners are
searching the tropical world over for a
supply. of evaporated bananas for making
hoYr naH II~I
and crystalized fruits and other products
Evaporating and milling plants are being
established to manufacture these prod
ucts, utilizing for the same such fruit as
may be undersize, overripe or bruised.
X
All nations, races and classes have
found the banana to be cheap nourish-
ing and satisfying food. and the demand
must increase and continue as the popu-
| lation of the earth increases The taste
for the banana does not have to be ac-
quired. Most people take to 1t as readily
as child does to candy. 1t is the easiest
to peel the easiest to eat and one of the
easiest to digest of all fruits. 1t has no
seeds to search for, no hull to crack, no
bones to bother, no worms to watch for
and is the most compactly built bunch of
goodness of its size in the world. 1t is
eaten in the field, on the street. in the
Office. in the lunchroom in the home
three times day and between meals, raw
or cooked in every conceivable manner
| 1t may repose on a push-cart or loll on a
| counter in the dust days at a time, yet
| without washing it may be peeled and
| come out absolutely clean and sanitary.
| 1t Is immune from insect pests. although
| 1t thrives in countries swarming with
poisonous insects The banana stands
| alone as fruit that has no enemies. and
this gives some justification for one of its
names. the Fruit of Paradise" 1t is
| said that some people believe the banana
to be the Forbidden Fruit which caused
| the downfall of our foreparents. But
| that's an unjust reflection on the univer-
sal goodness of this fruit. 1t is Just pos
sible that Adam may have stepped on a
discarded banana peel when promenading
in the garden. and the reporters make a
mistake in giving out the incident.
To the value of the banana as a food
should be added the fact that the stalks
and leaves furnish excellent material for
paper and cordage; fine vinegar and es-
| sential oil are made from the skin of the
| fruit; the juice of the stem makes a mag
nlficent medicine for intestinal troubles;
| the stem and leaves furnish good for
| age; from the young leaf a salve Of excel
| lent healing quality is obtained for a cut
| or wound; from the stalk is obtained a
most beautiful silken fiber, from which
can be made a fine dress goods, resem-
bling closely the Irish poplin the sap of
the stalk is used as writing fluid and in
| delible dye. which no series of washings
| will remove; the rind Is greedily eaten by
| all manner of live stock when mixed with
| straw; the husks which cover the fruit
make beautiful bouquet holders that one
] can hardly tell from the finest Japanese