What the Banana Trade has done for Jamaica,* 



By Dr. H. B. Ford. 



[HE sub]e6l I propose introducing for your con- 

 sideration to-day, is one of such deep interest 

 and vital importance to this colony in the 

 present languishing condition of its export trade, that I 

 fear it is utterly impossible, in a short paper of this 

 description, to do adequate justice to the subjeft, but I 

 trust that its many omissions and vagueness will of itself 

 inspire sufficient interest in the subje6l to induce, not 

 only the members of this Society, but the community at 

 large to go more fully into its details, and give it their 

 most careful consideration. 



The Banana Industry in Jamaica, which has assumed 

 such vast proportions, owes its existence more to chance 

 than to any well conceived and carefully prepared plans. 

 Incredible as it may seem, somewhere in the early sixties 

 a stray Cape Cod fishing Schooner, The Mary Steel, 

 owned and sailed by Captain BuSH, visited the Island 

 during the winter for general trade and carried back 

 amongst her cargo a few bunches of bananas, more for 

 private disposal than in the interest of trade. The 

 somewhat novelty of the fruit in America, induced 

 fancy prices to be offered and accepted ; with the mutual 

 agreement for the supply and disposal of a few extra 

 bunches on the return trip, The mystic word " Banana" 

 soon got passed around and the Schooner's general 

 cargo of tropical produce gradually yielded ever in- 



♦ Read at the August Meeting of the Society. 



