Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-04
BIC BANANA CROP
NOW IN PROSPECT
Tropical Hurricane Failed to
Damage Plantations in
Central America.
BY j. c. ROYLE.
w ~ ASo AAASs
Special Dispatch TO The Star.

opccldi DispdEcH 10 Inc StaF.
NEW YORK. August 4.-Dis-
patches today make it certain that
the recent West Indian hurricane,
while II did tremendous damage in
some localities. did not affect the
banana crop. Bananas have become
staple article of American diet and
curtaflment of crop is of tremen-
dous significance both to planters, con-
suiners and American investors. A
hurricane which destroys the banana
trees deals a blow from which the
country affected cannot recover for
years, since it takes around seven
years to bring trees TO commercial
bearing.
The recent storm passed north of
the Central and South American coun-
tries where bananas are produced for
commercial shipment. Leading fruit
companies stated today that they ex.
pected as big crop as that of last
year which was of record proportions,
and that importations into this coun-
try will exceed all previous records.
Fear Insect Pests.
At the moment insect pests are re-
garded with more apprehension than
are violent storms. Four or five years
ago the plantations In Honduras were
attacked by a borer which caused
great destruction. This pest, accord
ing to United Fruit Co. officials. has
been satisfactorily checked, but re.
ports from the port of New Orleans
indicate that shipments of fruit from
costa Rica have been reduced materi-
ally by the borer and other insect
pests. Parts of Panama also have
been affected. Honduras, however, is
now Shipping 100000 to / 900 600
punches of bananas month TO that
harbor or about half the amount re-
cefved there.
me banana business has grown To
such proportions that the companies
engaged have taken adequate steps
10 obViate any shortage This has
peen accomplished by spreading out
thelr plantations so that a disaster to
one would lea-e the others practically
untouched. Banana ports now are be-
ing equipped with the most modern
handling machinery This has ma
te:ially cut cost of distribution. since
( has eliminated the long lines of
stevedores which formerly were neces.
sary TO unload fruit cargoes.
Rail transportation is on most
scientific basis. with utilization made
or central diversion points SO that
cars may be rerouted TO markets
where they are needed and steered
away from those where there is a
surplus.
Sales of the United Fruit Co. so far
this year have been running around
a million lunches a quarter higher
than in 1925. This concern has been
called the worlds largest farmer. but
other banana companies have made
progress at almost as fast a rate, com
pared with their holdings.
United Fruit now is understood to
be planning addition of five new re.
frigerator ships to it's fleet of 20 YES,
sells. This concern and others back
ed by American capital arc making
strong efforts to popularize bananas
in British and European markets.
This move has been aided by the de-
velopment of plantations in Jamaica
and other British colonial possessions
in the Caribbean.
Developing in Ecuador.
A move now is under way to de-
velop the plantations of Ecuador and
northern west coast countries of South
America bringing the frut To north