The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-07-22
How Pineapples are Grown.

the folloWlng interesting facts IN regard tt
the pineapple and its culture
The Bahamas generally are noted for the
thinness of their soil, which seldom exceeds
a depth of from six to eight inches; but
fortunately is not a Siae qi,d non with veg
etable life in these islands. heislands are
composed largely of species of limestone
made up of sand, carbonate of lime and the
remains Of myriads of defunct coral insects,
so that the rock itself is fertilizer of no
mean quality; indeed, prolific vegetation
fourishes apparently upon the bare rock,
the surface Of which is broken and honey
combed, the small openings being fall of
vegetable mould, and furnishing holding
places for the roots of not only plants and
grasses. but often for those of large and
stately trees.
The ordinary soil of the Bahamas is not
fitted for the culture of the pineapple,
which plant requires depth OF at least two
feet to be grown successfully But upon
many OF the islands are found extensive
tracts OF soil eomposedof a reddish clay about
two feet in depth, peculiarly adapted to the
pineapple The soil Is very rich, being, as
geologists say, composed Of the decayed re-
mains of decOmposed vegetable life and the
debris of shell,6sh and coral insects. each
cubic foot Of the ashes or soil representing
the decay Of about one thousand times that
quantity Of original matter
In preparing field for planting, the FIRST
thing to be done is to clear away the dense
natural growth Of bush or ehaparrsl, which
Is dcne by cutting and burning. the cutting
being effected by the blacks, not with the
modern ak. but with heavy, clumsy, long
bladed knives, called machet =. The plants
are then set cut about two feet apart, and sell
don. .ifever. fail 10 take root and grow When
once started. the only care Of the planter Is
TO keep down the wecds the plants viii
take care Of themselves if tins i done.
The fruit uill come % maturity IN from
eight "a nine months. at which time the
main stalk dies, leaving an abundance Of
young sprouts, which IN turn spring up and
bear fruit. The bush or plant upon which
the pineapple grows j. at maturity about
thirty inches high, with long slender, hard,
sharp. blade-like leaves. with serrateCi edges
The leaves bend outward frun the centre
and cat of this centre shoots the fruit
oae appIe only 20 each plant Au acre Of
good band VIII easily support 5000 plants
Of the sugar.loaf variety, or about 5.000 Of
the scarlet kind
The average life Of the scarlet pine Is
three years, that VI the sagar-loaf i shout
Eve The average weight 0f the fruit in
the Bahamas : froz three 10 three and
half pounds 4 field Is generally gone
o~cr shree times during the season, aaord-
ing three grades Of fruit, called first. ssoond
and third cuttings The sesries variety
ripens month earlier than the sugAr-loif,
uwing 10 The sharp serrated leaves Of the
plant the gathering q the fruit ! tedious
and dishcnli matter. the men, women and
childrcn engaged IN che work being obliged
70 wear heavy eanvas le1Eings and gloves
with gaunfless 70 prOiers themselves against
the sharp pines of the plant.
The pinespple plAnts furnish but enc
regular crop during shs rear, although the
Iocal markets arc Scli0m without a few
piaeayplss on sale. About the middle Of
April the first cuttings are uaa.ls q the scar
lef pines, and The last i uaa1c about the
srsi af Juiy The sugar-loaf pine Is az
maturity during July and Aagrlss. The
shipping season Is one of signal aetivity in
the ccsony, for when the fruit i ready for
the knife, Il must b eal and hurried With
full spccd 10 markets The average ex-
ports II fruits arr said 10 reach 4,00O 900
10 5.e'll,ils'0 Pinoapples during the season.
The fruit for shipment Is never allowed to
npen, but + cut when grcca, as soon as Il
Is full 81 jaice, otherwise Il would spoll be-
fore reaching market. The average price
paid Ger the fruit Shere lhey are grown, Is
~ cents pr dnsen foE first cuttings 36
cents per dcsen fsyr second cuttings; and 80
cents per dozen for shirsi.. Souie growers
ship their own fruit, others sell 70 local
buyers, who purchase the crops Al about
the foregoing figures; while the others sell
10 ship masters. who eaA with the cash and
lake the fruit away with them.
There haye becA years when the pine
apy.le crop has been sold for from slO0.-
900 ID sS00. .000; ssrnetimaea II has broaglnt
les than half those figures, The searlet
variety gocs 10 the Enitsd States, the su-
sar-loaf to England As the hfteT voyage
s bong one. the pineapple plant ! cut 81
II tbs FsDt. and plant and irait arc shipped
anseparated This Is an expensive pro
seeding, bus the pFics realized IN EagAnd
Justify il. indeed, IN no other way could
the fruit Be taken thither. Sales are con
incted differently in Isondea and Nev
York Ia the latter eity the fruit j. sold
Dyer the vessels side, in London it is land.
a, assorted, cafalogued, advertised, and
sold ON Exed days a. established prices
The fruit, remaining on the plant can be
Kept long tiine,
The crop j. not now All exported, 4 Ior-
ion being put mp or preserved in tin cans,
several factories npan the islands heing en-
gagged in this work Some Of the fruit ex-
Torsed + preserved h similar way in the
United States, bat il j. inferier IN favor
md quality to that preserved at Nassau,
which Il allowed 60 sspea an the plant.
Ehilst that canned abroad has been placked
green for shipulent and has eeteriofated by
he'Yoyage. handling. bruising and some
lines by slelay.
The expense Of transporting the fruit 10
market Is not great. rs the pines are shipped
n bulk; and 50 AZ first blash one might
hink the trade would be very profitable.
iinoe the pineapples retail in the United
states al from II 10 % cents apiece. But
he whole business i 70 the last degree a
iazardoas one, Ifeserything Is favorable, /
sood profits are rcalizcd, but few unto
yard circumstances win bring utter rum
There may be too much rain, or drought; j
It times armies of rats and land crabs in /
Tade and devonr whole fields in night or
wo; bush fires not ipfrequently devastate !
plantation prices may run low. If none
# these things occur. and the fruit Is put
IN shipboard in good order, the gauntlet Of /
IN ocean voyage is vet to be run, and adj
lerse winds and stormy weather mean de- {
truetion By decay Of the whole cargo |
whilst the average Of loss ON the speediest
rip is seldom below 33 per cent. Again,
he ship may be borne on her course by
prosperous breezes, and may arrive in port 4
With her cargo in fine condition, only alas
o find other vessels Just ahead of her, the I
market glutted, and her perishable fruit I
must be sold at what it will fetch Then
be dealer in pineapples is in an uncertain I