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revenue gained from it when in pee bearing being large, many men 
who were formerly labourers now own plantations on t me banks of the 
various rivers and also a town houses. A e fruit grown 
here is shipped to the United States, and the oR Sen whieh buy the 
fruit ka the PE gring i in exchange all the food stuffs which are 
consumed in the Colon 
The later developments in fruit-growing in Nicaragua are described 
by Mr. Consul Bingham, in a Foreign Office Report, Ng Bs 1888, on 
the ERR AMOR of bananas on the Rama River, Nicarag 
rst shipment, consisting of about 500 Pus a was made in 
ii taiter part of 1883, the fruit being sold at the vessel’s side at the 
rate of 50 cents (Nicaraguan currency) per bunch, The success that 
attended this first attempt induced many persons, including. several 
foreigners, to commence the cultivation of banan nas, and now the whole 
of both banks of the Rama River, commencing from about 20 miles 
h 
River, for about 20 miles from hakie | on not adapted for culti- 
vation, being too low and swampy. The following figures will show 
the rapid growth of the exportation of when from this country : cate 
1883 the number of bunches exported was 8,000 ; in 1884, 40,000 ; 
1885, s uid. in 1886, 154,434; and in 1887, 255,332. 
“To hip the bananas during the year 1887 there were six steam- 
ships, Gack making monthly trips to the United States, where the 
whole of the fruit is sold, two of these steamers carrying their cargo to 
New Orleans, three to Baltimore and Philadelphia alternately, and one 
to New York. 
* A plantation of 10,000 bananas would cost, including clearing the 
ground and planting, about 10,000 dollars currency. It would com- 
menee to give fruit in 9 or 12 months after planting, and would 
last about five years; after that time the ground becomes exhausted, 
about 6 to 8 inches 
long, and a red variety known as the ‘patriota. This is the ha than 
the yellow form, but has a sweeter and finer flavour 
In Venezuela Diaz states that the plantains an d bananas of that 
country dirivé very well, the only drawbaeks in certain localities being 
strong winds and occasional prolonged droughts. The soil best suited 
to them should be somewhat moist and provided with humus, As 
regards temperature the hotter it is (with abundant moisture) the 
yetter ; hence the luxuriance of the plants along the sea coast. 
In propagating it is important the suckers. should not be removed 
until the parent stem has perfected its fruit, otherwise the latter will 
not fully mature. Suckers are put out at a distance of 9 or 12 feet, 
of 
the rows. ‘The weeding and lost’ should take place at the beginning 
of the rainy season and again “ at the commencement of the north 
winds,” that is twice a year, in the months of April and September 
respectively. 
At British Guiana Messrs. Harrison and Jenman write :—— 
“The banana is a gross feeder and requires liberal cultivation. A 
copious rainfall, good soil and tillage, free drainage, m and liberal dressings 
