Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
figure 4.1.Apairofveneneros applyingBordeauxspray(1940s).United
FruitCompanyPhotographCollection.BakerLibrary,HarvardBusiness
School.
Erwin's image of residue-laden banana bunches being dipped repeatedly
in vats of acid and water suggests that Sigatoka control required more
than imported technologies: the ground spray system required ''native
employees'' to carry out tedious, messy, and physically demanding tasks.
The Tela Railroad Company used an average of 10-12 spray gangs on a
daily basis per farm. During the 1930s and 1940s, each two-person ''gang''
typically sprayed around 2 hectares (5 acres) perday. On any given day, at
least 1,000 people worked to control Sigatoka on company farms in Hon-
duras.
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Eachfarmalsohada''spraymaster''andoneortwosprayforemen
