12 
THE PAN AMERICAN UNION. 
ally grow up around the log and adjust itself to the situation. The 
enormous amount of logs, branches, leaves, and trash covers the 
ground like a mulch and instead of being destructive, actually estab¬ 
lishes the most favorable conditions possible for the growth of the 
young banana plants. The hot, humid atmosphere and the wealth 
of fungus and bacterial organisms cause the felled trees to undergo 
rapid decomposition. The twigs and smaller branches quickly rot, 
adding to the humus in the soil. The larger branches decay more 
slowly; the huge trunks may withstand this action for several years, 
and are sometimes burned to get them out of the way. 
About three months after planting, the plantation is ready for its 
first “ cleaning.” This consists in cutting down the smaller limbs 
and branches of the felled trees as well as chopping down the weeds 
and tropical growth that have sprung up, which, if left, would soon 
choke the young banana plants. From now on, at intervals of from 
three to four months, the plantation has to be cleaned. Through 
the various cleanings much of the original forest growth felled has 
been carried off or has decayed, although the stumps and logs of the 
larger trees may still remain. At each cleaning any failure of the 
original rhizome to come up, commonly termed “misses,” or any 
damage to the young plants by felling or ravages of animals has to 
be overcome by “supplying/’ i. e., replanting. This is usually done 
by using “suckers” (although “bits” are occasionally used) which 
are obtained from older fields and are, as previously described, young 
plants which have developed from the underground buds or eyes on 
the bulb or rootstock. By means of a sharp mattock they are cut 
cleanly off from the parent rootstock or “ mat ” and carefully removed 
so as not to break off the small roots. The green leaves are cut back, 
and the young plant is then set out in its place in the row and soon 
begins to take root and to send out new leaves. The success of the 
plantation depends in a great measure on the “stand” obtained from 
the original planting. 
A great deal of other work must be done simultaneously with or 
soon after the planting, in order to be prepared to handle the crop 
which begins to come in from twelve to fifteen months later. As 
the banana plantation is established on virgin land, the operations 
may be a few or many miles from any habitation. Kailway con¬ 
struction must follow closely behind the planting in order to bring 
in material and supplies for laborers and for construction. Quarters 
for employees and laborers have to be constructed, areas cleaned and 
pastures made for work animals, and tram lines laid down through¬ 
out the plantations as fast as the right of way can be cleared through 
the felled land. It is a race against time to accomplish all of this, 
in which the uncertainty of nature’s elements plays an important 
part. Owing to the heavy and irregular rainfall, both farm and con- 
