March, 1910.] 



213 



Edible Products. 



that are here enumerated will indicate, 

 in brief, the extent of the world's trade 

 in bananas :— 



Jamaica.— During the past three years, 

 an average of 16,500,000 bunches have 

 been exported, distributed as follows :— 

 15,000,000 bunches to the United States, 

 and 1,500,000 bunches to England. 



Costa Rica.- In 1908, some 10,000,000 

 bunches were exported, but it was 

 estimated that fully 2,000,000 bunches 

 were lost through winds and storms. 

 Some 7,000,000 bunches were exported to 

 the United States, and 3,000,000 bunches 

 to European markets, in which a decided 

 effort is being made to introduce Costa 

 Rica bananas. 



Honduras.— In 1908, 4,300,000 bunches 

 were exported as compared with over 

 5,000,000 bunches in 1906 and 1907. 

 Further exploitation is being pushed 

 forward. 



Columbia.— Some 2,250,000 bunches 

 were exported in 1908, and it is estimated 

 that within five years not less than 

 5,000,000 bunches will be exported 

 annually. There has been remarkable 



Erogress of late in this country. The 

 rst shipment of bananas was made in 

 1891, and tor the first 13 years the exports 

 never reached 500,000 bunches in any one 

 year. In 1904, 780,000 bunches were 

 shipped, and since then the exports have 

 rapidly increased. 



Nicaragua.— In 1908, 1,250,000 bunches 

 were exported. Large areas have re- 

 cently been granted for the growing of 

 bananas and the exports should rapidly 

 increase. 



Other Countries. — Guatemala, 700,000 

 bunches in 1908, San Domingo, 450,000 

 bunches ; Cuba, about 500,000 bunches ; 

 British Honduras, 400,000 bunches ; and 

 smaller quantities from Panama and 

 Surinam, while the export from the 

 Canary Islands of the dwarf banana was 

 nearly 2,500,000 crates holding roughly 

 3,000,000 bunches of bananas. 



The total trade to America in 1908 was 

 about 32,250,000 bunches, and the trade 

 to English and European markets was 

 about 4,000,000 bunches of the Gros 

 Michel or Jamaican variety and 3,000,000 

 bunches of the dwarf or Chinese kind. 



Points to be Considered. 

 The first question to be asked is 

 whether the soil is suitable and what 

 area would be available within easy 

 reach of the port of shipment. There 

 are many circumstances that affect this 

 issue. The cultivation of bananas is 

 now carried on in a large number of 

 countries, the prices are gradually fall- 

 ing, and only the best quality of fruit 



is now readily acceptable on the markets. 

 In Surinam, 36 hours is given to cut and 

 deliver fruit, and therefore it is essential 

 for an export trade that the land on 

 which bananas are cultivated be within 

 near distance of the port of shipment. 

 For an export trade of say 20,000 bunches 

 of bananas a week, it would be necessary 

 to have at least 5,000 acres under culti- 

 vation. In fact, the United Fruit Com- 

 pany in their Surinam contract stipu- 

 lated that over 7,000 acres should be 

 planted within three years of signing 

 the contract, to ensure a minimum 

 quantity of 20,000 bunches per week. 

 Poor land or worn-out cane land will not 

 produce first-class fruit, and therefore 

 it is necessary at the beginning that the 

 land should be of good quality. A large 

 amount of our coast-lands would not be 

 suitable for the successful cultivation 

 of bananas, but it is probable, if means 

 of transport to the seaboard were 

 readily available, that much of the back 

 lands would suit admirably. A good 

 deal of the land on the lower parts 

 of the rivers should also grow good 

 crops of bananas, but cultivation could 

 not be practised too far away from 

 the port of shipment or otherwise the 

 fruit could not be cut and delivered 

 in the specified time. 



The next question to be given careful 

 consideration is the available labour 

 supply. In Surinam, it has been found 

 that it is necessary to have three 

 labourers for every five acres of banana 

 cultivation, but there are times when 

 a larger number are required. It would 

 most probably be found, that 5,000 acres 

 under bananas would afford sufficient 

 continuous employment for 3,000 people. 



Co-operation is essential for a success- 

 ful banana industry. It would be 

 necessary that all the bananas be 

 delivered at the port of shipment within 

 the twelve hours immediately before 

 the ships are scheduled to sail, and the 

 previous twenty -four hours would be 

 given for cutting, packing, and trans- 

 porting to the port. A very efficient 

 organization is required to accomplish 

 all this work within such a limited space 

 of time, and unless everything works 

 smoothly, a considerable loss of fruit 

 will result. In fact, the banana industry 

 is now run on such modern business 

 methods that it would be necessaiy for 

 a considerable area of bananas to be 

 planted in the same district under a 

 single Association, in order that manage- 

 ment expenses may be reduced, and in 

 order that transport and shipment 

 could be economically carried out. It 

 is no longer possible for the small man 

 to cultivate a few acres and to market 



