The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-06-16
The pineaDDle.

Iuc ElueuVplt'
The pine apple, or ananas, (AnanaSsd
Saticd) is plant of the natural order
BromelidceP, Justly highly esteemed for
its luscious and delightful fruit. 1t is
native of tropical America, and is found
in greatest profusion throughout the
West India Islands and in the sandy
maritime portions of the northeastern
part of South America. In these Sec
tions it was originally wild fruit, but
has been greatly improved by care and
cultivation. 1t has gradually dif'used
over tropical and sub-tropical countries,
| until it has become naturalized in many
sections of the world, notably in Asia
and Africa. Its strong, hardy nature
| has enabled it to withstand the unavoid-
able differences of its several new loca-
tions, until it has spread over nearly all
the warm, sandy countries on the face of
the globe; while its delightful flavor
and refreshing moisture has made it q
wonderful favorite among all the nations.
| The fruit is "sorosis," formed by
calyces and bracts of a close spike of
| flowers becoming succulent and COM
bined. 1t has number of long, SER
rated, sharp-pointed, rigid leaves spring
ing from the loot, in the midst of which
a short fower-stem is thrown up, and
bearing thereon single fruit. From
the summit of the fruit springs a 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 high state of culti-
walton the perfect seed is almost never
produced.
In size the Pine Apple varies from 81
to II pounds, and retains its flavor and
juiceness for an extremely long period
of time. In many countries, notably,
China, Japan and the PHILIPPINE Islands,
its fibre is much used for manufacturing
purposes, the natives being peculiarly
skilled in this species of work. Exqui-
site ehandkerchiefs, 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 being mat
ter for development at some future day.
In our home market the Bahama
Pine Apple" is the favorite fruit, and
the demand and supply have been kept
at pretty even 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 invaria-
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 Provi-
dence, has always been considered the
most favorable point for the purchase
and shipment of Pines. The island
itself seems to bristle with them. On
every side as far as the eye can reach,
loom up the brilliant green, pink and
yellow apples, seated royalty upon theil
cactus-like looking thrones, and diffus
ing their delightful odor throughout
! their surrounding neighborhood. Or
some plantations from 10000 to S0,00(
l dozens are cut per annum, and dozens
of cargoes are shipped to the variouC
: ports of the United States and Europe
Many are also packed and canned by th'
producers, some parties shipping al
: many as from 10000 to $4,000 dozen O
! cans of course these are the large
dealers, but hundreds and hundreds O
negroes engage in the same traffic TO
: their account, and when their crop
ripen and become marketable, thronG
+ the wharves and business places, offer
! ing their stocks to the traders and buy
: ers with perseverance and pertinacit,
l. almost unendurable.
e AS regards their method of canning
: they are of course, greatly behint
d the perfected and finished establish
0 ments, with which we are favore,
e here, and lack the requisite machi
e merry, and, in fact, the necessar
II knowledge of detail required, in orde
: to elevate the business to the same su
/, periority which it he's acquired with us
q The skill and rapidity, however, @
Z the negro employees in pairing the fiji
u rous, unyielding fruit, is something
: wonderful in dexterity and manipulation
After them come the "slicers," who Gu
, u the pines in regular slices and place
Il them properly in the cans, from whenc
Il they are transferred to another depart
/ ment, there to receive their prope
J quantity of pure, sweet syrup, which
y always of the finest quality made fror
L pure rain water and the highest grade
. of sugar. The cans are then securel
s. sealed and soldered, weighed and passe
i into the boiling room, in which ar
u great steaming cauldrons of boiling Wa
ter, into which the cans are lowered b
$ tackle of the most primitive and un
a pretending style. In this hot bath the
u remain until the air within them is wei
. expanded-say some four or five min
; utes,-when they are -hoisted, and
- small hole punctured in each, which j
!, Immediately soldered up again, as 500
e as the confined air has had an opportu
e nifty to eLcape, when they are agai
d re-lowered into the boiling water an
9 allowed to remain until properl
y cooked.
!, After the cooling, then comes the Ia
1 belling, which being finished they al
/ ready for shipment, and take their voy
o ages to every port in the entire worlG
u Hottentot and Malay, Arab and TURK
all extend to them hearty Welcome
u Their own merits speak for themselves
9 their delicate flavor and cooling proper
5 ties are unequalled by any fruit whic
J bounteous nature has so lavishly bt
q slowed upon mankind, and their cheer
c ing presence upoI the t-bles of ric
d and poor alike prove an acceptable an
q much coveted addition thereto.
. . Wasn't Her Fault.
II. T. L. I