Year: 1874

Panama, and the regularity of accom-
modation for exporting, have almost
destroyed the West India trade. The
importations from Aspinwall this year
will almost double those of 1873.


The plantation is picturesque sight.
The banana tree grows to height Of
from ten to twelve feet, and sends out
broad green leaves that curve gracefully
and taper beautifully from the crown Of
the tree. From the center Of the stalk
a single bunch of bananas juts out and
bends the trunk in its direction as it
increases in weight. The fruit takes
about eight months to to reach maturity,
but when exported it is cut in green
state and ripened artifcially in New
York. The tree bears but a single
bunch. Then it is cut down, but new
stalk starts Immediately from the root,
and there is no necessity for planting
anew. Only when the parent root has
stretched itself out by innumerable new
shoots it is necessary to divide it up for
transplanting. The dusky individual
who has the place in charge is not bur-
dened with labor. 1t is only necessary
for him to keep his fences of wild cac-
tus in order and to keep down the
weeds. The sun and frequent showers
do all the rest. Meanwhile he can
swing at ease in his hammock in his
bamboo hut, matched with palm, and
calmly await the advent of '' steamer
day." When that important event ar
rives, and it is necessary to cut the
punches, everything is activity itself.
A large force pours into the field to han
die the harvest, carry the punches to
the small cars, and pack them away
tenderly aboard ship. At the wharf,
too, the scene is strange. From every
nook along the coast dug-outs and small
trading vessels come from many miles
away with cargo of two or three or
twenty punches, their proprietors are
half naked, ragged, black and yellow
men, who pass their lives in little patch
es burned out of the mountain sides.
House and land cost them nothing;
years clothing can be gotten by q weeks
work; food is at hand on land and in
the water, to be had for the taking,
and the punches of bananas raised on
their clearings buy them their luxuries
of whisky and tobacco. It is an easy
life - only one remove above their
neighbor, the sloth, who disputes with
them possession of the territory. There
is one species of the banana which ia
never imported into this country, though
it would be if its merits were known.
1t is called the fig banana, and is only
about half the size of the ordinary fruit,
being about as large as O mans thumb.
But it is delicious morsel. The trav-
eler makes acquaintance with it first at
Mendocin, the midway station on the
Panama Railroad, buying at the rate of
ten for five cents. If he makes any
stay on the isthmus he will always find
it on the tables of those who live well.
The fruit-dealers there soy, however,
that it will not pay to export these fig
bananas, as people at the North would
think they did not get the value Of their
money in quantity. They would cost
as much to export as the others. The
bunch of bananas cost the shipper one
dollar in gold, laid down i'll the vessel.
The freight from Aspinwall to New
York is twenty-five cents in gold by the
cubic foot. When the fruit reaches
this city it is at once carted to the stores
of the consignees, and there the lunches
are carefully hung in rooms, which are
kept up to an even temperatur. Of sew
enty degrees. In a few days they reach
the color that is desired, and it is also
found that by this process the fruit
loses very little of its original delicacy
of flavor. A portion of the cargo is
sold on the dock, and shipped immedi-
ately to Boston, Philadelphia. Chicago
and the principal cities of the Middle
and the Western States. The trade in
bananas lasts throughout the year, and
is only light during the season when
peaches are abundant.-N. Y Graphic.