HONDURAS. 23 



The Mosquito Reserve lies next south of the Eepublic of Hon- 

 duras. The estimate of El Diario states that the cost of prepar- 

 ing the land, planting and caring for 44^ manzanas, or 92 acres, 

 and the income therefrom are as follows: 

 Outlay First Year. 



44> manzanas or 92 acres, and clearing the same $ 3,115 



10,000 sprouts, @ Ic. each 100 



Cultivating 1 , first year, @, $12 per manzana 534 



Wages and sustenance of manager 708 



Wages eight extra laborers, 15 days harvesting fruit 64 



Food for eight laborers, 15 davs @30c per diem each 36 



Wages and food for cook @ $23 per month 276 



Building utensils, etc., etc 1,000 



Total cost $ 5,833 



Income. 



12,000 bunches @ 50c gold $ 6,000 



Premium on gold @ 33 per cent 1,980 



Total, $ 7,980 



Deduct 20 per cent for fruit lost, $ 1,596 



Deduct cost as shown above, 5,833= 7,429 



Net gains $ 551 



Outlay Second Tear. 



Wages 8 laborers @, $16 per month $ 1,536 



Food for 8 men @ 30 c. each per diem 876 



Wages and food of manager and cook 984 



Materials, replanting and incidental expenses 500 



Total cost. $ 3,896 



Income. 



30,000 bunches @ 50c. gold, $15,000 



Premium on gold @, 33 per cent 4,950 



Total $19,950 



Deduct 20 per cent, for fruit lost $ 3.990 



Deduct cost as above for second year 3,896= 7,886 



Net profits second year $ 12,064 



In 1879 Consul W. C. Burchard wrote on the subject of grow- 

 ing bananas and plantains in the Province of Mosquitia, where 

 this grant is located, as follows ; 



I believe that facts and figures will warrant me in saying that there 

 is no agricultural labor more profitable, in relation to the capital 

 required, than that of cultivating bananas and some other tropical fruits 



