50 



revenue gained from it when in full bearing being large, many men 

 who were formerly labourers now own plantations on the banks of the 

 various rivers and also comfortable town houses. All the fruit grown 

 here is shipped to the United States, and the steamers which buy the 

 fruit from the grower bring in exchange all the food stuffs which are 

 consumed in the Colony." 



The later developments in fruit-growing in Nicaragua are described 

 by Mr. Consul Bingham, in a Foreign Office Report, No. 92, 1888, on 

 the cultivation of bananas on the Rama River, Nicaragua : — 



" The first shipment, consisting of about 500 bunches, was made in 

 the latter 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 bananas, and now the whole 

 of both banks of the Rama River, commencing from about 20 miles 

 from the Bluefields Lagoon up to the junction of the Rivers Escondido 

 and Sequia, and such parts of the last-named rivers as are navigable 

 for canoes, have been cleared and cultivated. The banks of the Rama 

 River, for about 20 miles from Bluefields, are not adapted for culti- 

 vation, being too low and swampy. The following figures will show 

 the rapid growth of the exportation of bananas from this country : — In 

 1883 the number of bunches exported was 8,000 ; in 1881, 40,000 ; in 

 1885, 45,147 ; in 1886, 154,434 ; and in 1887, 255,332. 



" To ship the bananas during the year 1887 there were six steam- 

 ships, each 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- 

 mence to give fruit in 9 or ]2 months after planting, and would 

 last about five years ; after that time the ground becomes exhausted, 

 and the fruit so poor as to be unmarketable. The bananas grown on 

 the Rama River are the ordinary yellow banana, about 6 to 8 inches 

 long, and a red variety known as the ' patriota.' This is smaller than 

 the yellow form, but has a sweeter and finer flavour." 



In Venezuela Diaz states that the plantains and bananas of that 

 country thrive very well, the only drawbacks 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 

 better ; 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 to 12 feet, 

 according to the fertility of the ground, and they are disposed "in 

 equilateral triangles." During the first year the ground could be 

 utilised for the growth of maize, peas, beans, and other crops between 

 the rows. The weeding and clearing 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, and liberal dressings 



