Evening star., 1942-07-20
United Fruit Co. Seeks
To Expand Growth
OF Tropical Products
Rubber, MoniIo Hemp and
Other VitoI Materials
Under Experimentation
2, he Associated Press

p the Associated Press.
NEW YORK. July 20-Helplng
Central America grow bigger crops
of rubber, Manila hemp, quinine,
palm oil and other tropical prod
ucts formerly brought from the
Pacific area was announced as
new fundamental policy of the
United Fruit Co.
The company for years had ex-
perimented with various commodi-
ties which the rich. tropical soil of
what it calls Middle America"
could produce
Such crops, aside from furnish
ing new source of income for the
farmer" the company said. would
provide a new source of supply for
many commodities formerly i'm
ported from the Far East"
United Fruit, looking ahead to
projected transportation improve
ment, said import from Central
America to the United States by
railroad, truck or even airplane
might become possible.
School Being Built.
1t reported that an agricultural
school now being constructed would
teach Central American students
growing of the crops which would be
new to some areas.
Once this movement is we'll under
way, the resulting increase in the
purchasing power of the countries
interested will mean higher stand
ard of living for them and greatly
increased market for the farmer,
the manufacturer, and the business
man in general in this country" it
commented.
The countries in which the plan
will first be introduced include Qua
temala, Honduras, Nicaragua. Costa
Rica and Panama.
Charles Morrow Wilson. author
and expert on Central America. in
commenting on the new United
Fruit policy. said the crops would not
compete with any grown in the
United States.
Without Profit Motive
Mr. Wilson said the plan may
very well be an epoch-making pro-
gram Of self-help by way of helping
citizen enterprises and domestic ag-
riculture of middle American coun-
tries without profit motive for the
United Fruit Co."
The writer asserted United States
purchases in the past had shown
commercial favoritism to the East
ern tropics, that recently 81 per cent
of certain essential crops came from
the other side of the world.
Many of the products, he said.
had been lifted bodily from this
hemisphere, established in the Far
East, and sold back to the Western
Hemisphere
Tasks Undertaken.
BY crops, Mr.. Wilson outlined the
task United Fruit had undertaken:
Abaca tManila hemp: Contracted
with Defense Supplies Corp. Gov
ernment agency, to plant 10000 acres
In Panama and Costa Rica.
Rubber: Appropriated money to
establish 1,0OO-acre rubber planta-
ton in Honduras, using '1know-how
gained in experimental paintings
and hevea tree varieties capable of
producing 1000 to 1900 pounds
year per acre compared with 800
pounds year in wild seedlings.
Mr.. Wilson commented: THE
United Fruit Co. is not going into
the rubber business. 1t intends to
help middle Americans who so de-
sire to 60 into the rubber business.
The same holds for other essential
crops"
Tung Oil Experiment.
Tung oil: Sources of the $4,000
tons annual imports of the United
States were cut off by war and the
oil is needed for war materials and
paints and varnishes. Tropical ex-
perts are seeking varieties best
suited to Central America.
Castor oil: The company is buy
ing trial shipments of the beans for
testing in the United States.
Teak wood: The tropical timber,
used in shipbuilding, is being planted
as rapidly as seedlings can be OBJ
tanned.
Essential oils: Citronella-acre-
age to reach $50 by the end of 1912:
lemon grass oil (used in the phar-
maceutical and soap industries) a
seven-acre seed bed will be ex-
tended to 500 acres.
Rotenone: An inSecticide, derived
chiefly from the roots of the derris
plant, which is being developed in
Puerto Rico with the help of the
Department of Agriculture.
ut is not anticipated that all of
these efforts In crop introduction
will prove successful" Mr.. Wilson
said. 1T is compare lively certain