92 BRITISH HONDURAS. 



For success, it is necessary to observe, as I have mentioned 

 above, that the labour supply is adequate to the wants of the 

 planter ; that good and popular classes of sugar are made, and 

 that judicious and systematic management is combined with 

 high culture of canes, suitable to the nature and character of 

 the soil and climate of each district. 



The exports for 1881 in connection with this industry in- 

 cluded 3,577 gallons of rum, of the estimated value of 665 16s.; 

 and 1,902 tons of sugar, of the value of 37,836. The present 

 area under canes is estimated at 2,300 acres. 



Bananas. Owing to the regular fortnightly communication 

 by mail steamer between British Honduras and New Orleans, 

 a large demand has arisen for bananas, coco-nuts, oranges, pine- 

 apples, and various other fruits for the American market. At 

 present, next to sugar, bananas would appear to be occupying 

 chief attention in the colony, and provided a convenient and 

 regular market is found for the produce, planters have every 

 prospect of finding the cultivation a profitable one. 



The chief points to which I would draw attention in connec- 

 tion with the cultivation of bananas are : 



1. That bananas should only be cultivated on rich, deep, 

 loamy soils, in well-sheltered situations, and within easy reach 

 of shipping facilities. 



2. That on virgin soil, as indicated in the last paragraph, the 

 plants should not be placed closer than 18 or 20 feet each way : 

 due regard being had to the character of the plants to follow the 

 bananas, viz., whether cacao, Liberian coffee, oranges, lemons, 

 coco-nuts, &c. 



3. That when the stools have ratooned heavily and produced, 

 say at 1 the end of the third year, some eight to ten stems, only 

 four or five of these should be left to produce fruit, the remainder 

 being cut high up or bent down so as not to cause excessive 



