l62 TiMEHRI. 



like results accrued here from his present visit, all should 

 have reason to be thankful. 



Captain Baker said that it was generally supposed 

 that he had started the fruit trade in Jamaica, but such 

 was not the case. It had commenced about 1868, and 

 he went there in 1870, when he found the business 

 worth looking after. The progress of Jamaica had really 

 been due to the different Governors, who put every 

 inducement to both growers and shippers. The railway 

 had been extended, and every facility given by the 

 Custom House to the steamers engaged in the trade. 

 The Company shipped about one-third of the total 

 export. The great obje6lion to this colony was the 

 necessarily longer voyage. It would not be safe to 

 calculate on any good result unless they could be 

 carried in seven days. Another thing to be noted was 

 that the kind of bananas grown here would not travel 

 well ; not being so even and uniform on the bunches 

 they would be likely to be broken at the base, and when 

 that takes place the fruit ripens and rots very quickly. 

 He had made a trip up the Demerara River, and con- 

 sidered the land there to be very suitable, but did not 

 think much of the East Coast. In Jamaica, bananas 

 and cocoanuts were often planted together ; he did not 

 think much of the latter in this colony, but thought there 

 were better prospers for chocolate (cacao). The water 

 facilities here were very good, and carriage would 

 therefore be better and cheaper than in Jamaica. As 

 the right kind does not grow here, they would have to 

 be imported : they can be supplied from Jamaica at £^ 

 per 1000. He did not think any firm would start the 

 business without a subsidy. The first year would be a 



