4 



part of the establishment, a special permit being necessary. The drying 

 operation is a secret ; much valuable time, and large sums of money- 

 having been spent in perfecting the process. Failure followed failure 

 in the first attempts to turn out a marketable article, but nothing daunt- 

 ed, the proprietors persevered, and that they have at last succeeded may- 

 be judged by the fact that the first order received by them was for five 

 tons, and a subsequent standing order for five tons dried bananas per 

 week. 



The bunches ot green bananas are hang on racks to ripen in a. 

 room fitted up for that purpose. They are prepared and passed through 

 the dryers, the machinery of which is worked by a powerful steam en- 

 gine going day and night. The dried bananas are then placed on sort- 

 ing tables and are carefully graded and packed by girls, this branch of 

 the establishment being under the direct superintendence of a lady. 



In a line with the dried banana factory are shops for carpenters, 

 and blacksmiths ; a large store, fully stocked with all kinds of engineers' 

 carpenters', blacksmiths', agricultural and other tools and hardware, 

 everything of the best ; a place for everything and everything in its 

 place. Adjoining are the offices of Mr. Zurcher and the manager, etc. 

 also a large Silo in which 2,200 cart-loads of grass are now under 

 pressure. 



in addition to silage, hay and other cattle foods, a food made on 

 the premises is being tri. j d. This, L understand, consists of green bana- 

 nas and th«? fruits of bastard cedar (Guazuma) specially prepared, and 

 it is said to be excellent, and nutritious. 



These foods are not being given to the cattle in a careless, haphaz- 

 ard way, but in stated quantities at stated times and the cattle are 

 weighed at regular intervals and the results recorded. In connection 

 with the establishment there is a fully equipped laboratory in charge of 

 a highly qualified analytical Chemist, who is always at work analyzing 

 various samples. 



The foregoing are only a few of the many experiments being car- 

 ried on at this huge Model Farm, or private Experiment Station. The 

 various experiments are in charge of men, each of whom is an ex- 

 pert in his own particular branch ; no expense is spared to make every- 

 thing a complete success, yet, at the same time, money is not wasted, but 

 is judiciouslv spent, and a careful account is kept of expenditure, 

 and of failures as well as successes. 



Apart from the large sums spent on labour, and on supervision, 

 such an establishment must be productive of an immense amount of 

 good in the district in which it is located, and, also, in the surrounding 

 district. 



The large numbers of young men and labourers employed are 

 taught to do everything in the proper way ; nothing is shirked ; sloven- 

 ly work is not tolerated ; everything is done thoroughly. Ploughs, 

 harrows, cultivators and other useful agricultural implements are in 

 constant use, and not merely one or two of these, but many of each ; 

 substantial buildings have been put up : and others are in course of 



