49 



" The profits on banana cultivation would appear to range from 121. to 

 15/. per acre, after the lapse of 12 to 18 months. The cost of estab- 

 lishing a plantation, including the price of land (at a dollar an acre) 

 will not exceed some SI. to 121. per acre until the first crop is reaped. 



" There are some thousands of acres of splendid land suitable for 

 banana culture in this colony, which offer every inducement to ex- 

 perienced tropical planters to settle down and reap the returns which 

 must inevitably attend the judicious and careful culture of this fruit. 

 Practically, the export trade in bananas has only arisen since steam 

 communication was established with America. The export in 1880 

 was 8,958 bunches of bananas, of the value of TOOL ; in 1881 it had 

 risen to 22,229 bunches, of the estimated value of 1,469/." 



[It has since attained large and increasing proportions, and the annual 

 value now is not less than 40,000Z.] 



A later account, written from personal experience, of banana planting 

 in British Honduras, was contributed to the Demerara Argosy by Mr. 

 W. Van Diepen. The chief points of interest may be briefly sum- 

 marised as follows : — Planting : The suckers are put out at 18 feet by 

 18 feet. This wide planting is claimed to be ultimately advantageous 

 in producing fine large bunches as well as in affording space for the 

 cultivation of cacao, rubber, and other plants of a more permanent 

 character. Bananas so planted give 134 stools to the acre. The 

 largest suckers only are used and care taken not to injure the eyes. 

 When suckers are produced all except two or three of the strongest 

 are recommended to be destroyed. " This is done by bending 

 them down, and on no account should a cutlass be used, as cutting 

 them down bleeds them, and consequently takes away the strength 

 of those left." 



Reaping: The bunches should be left on the trees, if possible, 

 until the day before shipping. During the cooler months, November 

 to April, the bananas are cut much fuller than during the hot months. 

 '* Fruit cut too full in the summer does not last the four days' voyage 

 to New Orleans." The period which usually elapses from the time 

 the sucker is planted until the bunch is reaped is twelve months. 

 " After the bunch is cut the planter may with safety expect two or 

 more bunches from shoots on the same stool during the next nine 

 months." Each bunch may weigh from 30 to 90 pounds. 



Replanting: Unless the banana plant is required to shade other 

 plants the fields should be re-planted every five years. 



Protection from wind: High winds are injurious to banana crops. 

 Hence cultivators should leave a belt of forest and under-bush to protect 

 the plantation on the north and east. Stems with large bunches should 

 be supported by sticks or bamboos. 



Shi i ping the fruit : Winter is the best market time for bananas in 

 the United States, the fruit keeps longer in good condition for the 

 voyage and subsequent handling on land. In order to obtain fruit 

 in December the grower should plant at the end of November, 

 that is, 12 to 13 months previously. The months of June, July, 

 August, and September are the worst for shipping bananas. In British 

 Honduras the contractors pay 50 cents, Belize currency, equal to 

 about Is. $d. for bunches of eight hands and upwards, and half that price 

 for bunches under eight hands ; bunches of six hands are very seldom 

 saleable. 



The United States Consul at Belize in 1893 reported : " The capital 

 required to start a fruit plantation is comparatively small, and. the 

 23099 D 



