The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1881-06-29
The PineaDDle.

The Pineapple.
The pine apple, or ananas, (AndnaSsd
Satica) is a plant of the natural order
BromelicceP, Justly highly esteemed for
its luscious and delightful fruit. 1t ls
a native of tropical America, and is found
in greatest p~rofusion throughout the
West India Islands and in the sandy
maritime portions of the northeastern
part of South America. In these sec
tons it was originally a wild fruit, but
has been greatly improved by care and
cultivation. It has gradually diffused
over tropical and sub-tropical countries,
until it has become naturalized in many
sections of the world, notably in Asia
and Africa. It's strong, hardy nature
has enabled it to withstand the unavoid-
able differences of its several new loca-
tons, until it has spread over nearly all
the warm, sandy countries on the face Of
the globe; while its delightful favor
and refreshing moisture has made it
wonderful f~avoritc among all the nations.
The fruit is a "~sorosis," formed by
calyces and bracts of a close spike Of
flowers becoming %succulent and COM
bined. It has a number Of long, ser.
rated, sharp-pointed, rigid leaves spring
ing from the root, in the midst of which
a short fower-stem is thrown up, and
bearing thereon a single fruit. From
the summit of the fruit springs o crown,
or tuft, of small leaves, capable of be-
coming a new plant it being propa-
gated, in cultivation, entirely by crowns
and suckers, as in q high state Of cult.
walton the perfect seed is almost never
produced.
In size the Pine Apple varies from 81
to - pounds, and etains its favor and
~juiceness for al extremely long period
of time. In many countries, notably,
China, Japan and the PHILIPPINE Islands,
it's fibre is much 1sed for manufacturing
purposes, the natives being peculiarly
skilled in this species of work. Exqui
site handkerchiefs, curtains, shawls, ETC.,
are produced, which command almost
fabulous prices among the more aristo-
cratic circles of Europe and Asia. In
this country no attempt of any magni-
tude has been made in this direction, its
utility from this standpoint BENG mat
ter for development at some future day.
In our home market, the Bahama
Pine Apple" is the f~avorite fruit, and
the demand and supply have been kept
OF q pretty v ratio. Immense quanti:
ties are %processed and canned for ship
ment to all parts of the world, and find
prompt and ready sale. In this pecu
liar branch of trade our city has inyariar
bly, taken the lead, the reputation for
square and honorable dealing ofhermer-
chants has become worldwide, while
their goods are proverbially celebrated
for pureness, fine quality and reasonable
ness of price.
Nassau, in the island of New ProN-
dence, has always been considered the
most favorable point for the purchase
and shipment of Pines. The island
itself seems to hristle with them. On
every side as far as the eye can reach,
loom up the brilliant green, pink and
yellow apples, seated royalty upon their
cactus-like looking thrones, and diffus-s.
ing their delightful odor throughout
their surrounding neighborhood. On
some plantations from 5000 to $4,000
dozens are cut per annum, and dozens
Of cargoes are shipped to the varioue
ports of the United States and Europe,
Many are also packed and canned by tbs
producers, some parties shipping as
many as from 10000 to $4,000 dozen Of
cans ; of course these are the larger
dealers, but hundreds and hundreds of
negroes engage in the same traffic for
their account, and when their crops
ripen and become marketable, throng
the wharves and business places, offer
>isg their stocks to the traders and buy
ers with a perseverance and pertinacity
almost uncomfortable. /,
AS regards tier method of canning.
they are of COURSE greatly behind
the perfected and finished establish,
ments, with which we are favored
here, and lack the requisite Maachlra
merry, and, in fact, the necessary
knowledge of detail required, in order
to elevate the business to the same q
periority which it has acquired with us.
The skill and rapidity, however, OF
the negro employees in pairing the fb-
rous, unyielding fruit, is something
wonderful in dexterity and manipulation.
After them come the "slicers,' who cut
the pines in regular slices and places
them properly in the cans, from whence
they are transferred to another DEPART
ment, there to receive their proper
quantity of pure, sweet syrup, which is
always of the finest quality made from {
pure rain water and the highest grades
Of sugar. The cans are then securely
sealed and soldered, weighed and passed
into the boiling room, in which are
great steaming ~cauldrons OF boiling wa
ter, into which the cans are lowered by
q tackle of the most primitive and I'M
pretending style. In this hot bath they
remain until the air within them Is well
expunded-say some four OF five min
utes,-when they are re.hoisted, and q
small hole punctured in each. which is
Immediately soldered up again, as soon
as the confined air has had an opportu-
nifty to escape, when they are again
Recovered into the boiling water and
allowed to remain until properly
cooked.
After the cooling, then comes the Ia
belling, which being finished they are
ready for shipment, and take their voy-
ages to every port in the entire world.
Hottentot and Malay, Arab and Turk,
all extend to them a hearty welcome.
Their own merits speak for themselves,
their delicate flavor and cooling proper
ties are %unequalled by any fruit which
bounteous nature has so lavishly be-
slowed upon mankind, aud their cheer
ing presence upon the tables of rich
and poor alike prove an acceptable and
much coveted addition thereto.
Unique SwindIing.
The confessions of the swindlers ar
rested in Kentucky and now in prison
in New York. reveals O most UNIQUE