The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1889-03-21
PINEAPPLES.
The Cultivation of This Deli
cious Tropical Fruit.
how They Are Propagated and
S Transported to Market.

/ iIoIlS pOI lSO " NlCI NOSs
"a few years ago pineapples were con-
tsidered luxuries in the northern cities;
but now they are as common as native
products. Ease of transportation, and
a better and more general knowledge
of the needs of the plants for success
full cultivation, have contributed largely
toward bringing these delicious fruits
within the reach of all. The ship
ments from the Island of Cuba are al
ways large, aud the fruit begins to ar
rive from this place in April. The
tpines' ripen early there, and shippers
from Havana control the market until
after the first week in May. Then the
Bahama and Florida ''pines" come in,
followed soon after by those from Cen
tral America. The season usually lasts
through August, during which time
about 100000 pineapples are shipped
into the country, over one-half of
which go direct to New York, the
: n. distributing point for the
4 a .so's States: rn.,,... :. n,,, n.,,,,,,,,,
controlled by half-a-dozen large dealers
in New York, who make speciality OF
it. They buy up the fruit on its arrival,
and fix the price according to the condi-
ton of the market, which is usually from
ten to twenty cents each for the Sex
tras, twelve to fourteen cents for No. l,
ten to twelve cents for No. 2, and as low
as six cents for poorer fruit. Barrels are
usually employed for packing, and from
= twenty-five to thirty extra large "pines,
or forty to sixty small ones arc put in one
barrel.
The cultivation of pincapples in Flor
ida is only of recent date; but 1t has
become leading industry at Key West
aud along the Indian river. The rapid
increase of plantations in both of these
sectio..s is so great from yea: 20 year that
in the near future it is expected that the
domestic fruit will supply the consump-
t on of the entire country. The climate
at Key West is about the same as in the
Bahamas, and the sandy soil is so pro-
ductive that the "pines" grow aim ost
without care.
The cultivation of the pineapple is
very easy, and requires but very little
labor on the part of the grower. They
are largely air plants, resembling in ap-
pcarance the 'air pines" which can be
found clinging to large trees in the ham,
mocks all over the state. For this rca-
son they will thrive well, even in poor
soil, if in suitable climate, AMI well
s1ppiei With aiF and and Eatcr-----,-
They are propagated from slips and
suckers. The former are taken from the
base of the matured pineapple, each
pine producing from five to seven slips,
and the liter are removed from the root
of Il plant. These slips and suckers
car c removed and shipped to a great
{ ancc: but this cannot be done safely
it'll all of the moisture is dried out of
chem. About ten thousand pineapples
can be planted to the acre, and in from
eighteen months to two years after plant
ing the slips will produce fruit. The
suckers produce fruit in less time, usually
one year after planting. After the plants
are once set, the only cultivation required
is an occasional stirring of the soil, until
the luxuriant growth of the plants shade
the ground and prevent the growth of
weeds and too rapid evaporation of
moisture. Each plant, if properly ma
tured, will produce one spine" If sold
at five cents apiece this would mean five
hundred dollars per acre, and one thou
sand dollars an acre if sold for ten cents
apiece. The average, however, is from
$500 to 500 per acre. Some of the
choicest varieties sell as high as thirty
and fifty cents apiece, wholesale; but
usually they are shy bearers, and do not
yield as much per acre as the poorer va
rieties.-Neao York Independent.