Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
figure 5.4.IdledworkersintheSulavalleyonUnitedFruitfarmshortlyaftera
''blowdown''(1925).UnitedFruitCompanyPhotographCollection.BakerLibrary,
HarvardBusinessSchool.
search during the first half of the twentieth century provide indirect evi-
dence that the susceptibility of tall Gros Michel plants to high winds had
a significant impact on workers' livelihoods.
Variations in soil conditions also affected the earnings of contract
workers. By the late 1920s, the fruit companies used steam-powered drag
lines to excavate primary drainage canals but lateral ditches, or zanjos,
were excavated by hand. Ditch digging was remunerated on a piece-wage
system.
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Soil conditions significantlyaffected earnings: loose, sandy soils
could be excavated with much less exertion (and therefore potentially
faster) than compact clay soils. Paleros received extra pay for removing
tree trunks and other surface obstacles, but wage rates did not varyon ac-
count of soil conditions. According to José Almendares, individuals who
complained about having to dig clay soils were told to ''take a hike'' (an-
dáte).
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José María Lara recalled that a skilled palero could earn up to
