The Opelousas courier., 1892-07-02
PINEAPPLES In FLORIDA.
A TRoPIC FRUIT NOW LARGELY
CULTIVATED IN THAT STATE.
Facts About the Pineapple Industry
The pines Are Propaga:ed in
Three Ways.

\ ~ bhS IaPlA Rlo"Un vi
pineapple cultivation IN the
' ! South these fruits are no longer
considered Injuries, North
erners using them in the summer as they
would their native products. The pine
apple season begins in February, when
the first foreign shipments are made,
and from that time until the last of
August nearly 5000, 600 "pines" are
disposed of in the United States. On
the Island of Cuba the fruits ripen earlier
than elsewhere, and growers there con-
troll the markets until the first week in
May. when the Florida and Bahama
plneapples begin TO arrive. Later smaller
shipments are made from Central
America, but these never reach very high
figures. All of the fruit Is shipped
direct to New York, and half-a-dozeu
large dealers in that city practically con-
troll the trade. On the arrival of the
fruit it is bought up BY them in bulk,
and the prices are fixed according to the
condition of the market. Pineapples
are generally sorted over at first and
divided into three lots, 'sextras," No. 1
and No. 2.
The spring of the year is the time to
inspect the ~pineapple-felds where the
fruits are just reaching maturity, for at
such times one may expect to find inter
esting sights if ever. When the ''pines"
begin to mature in Florida, the oranges
and grapefruit have long since been
gathered, and blossoms are on the trees
for next seasons crop. The bananas
have also been picked, and the stalks
have been cut down, or %"pruned, as the
work would be called in the North.
Along the Indian River and Key West
| pineapple culture has become a leading
industry, and thousands of the fruits are
annually gathered for the home markets.
The climate near Key West, and in the
southern tier of counties is about the
same as in the Bahamas, and the sandy
soil is thoroughly adopted to the culti-
walton of the "pines." The fruits are
planted, and they take care of them
selves with but little outside attention.
The plants are largely air-plants, and
they greatly resemble in appearance the
s'air-pines" which grow SO thicSly upon
the tall cypress trees OF the Florida
hammocks. In fact, the pineapple was
originally propagated and developed
from these so-called ''air pines," which
many visitors in the South carry home
with them, and which, if nailed upon
the side of the house and barn, will live
upon air and water for an indefinite
time.
Pineapples are ~propagated in three
ways-from the ~''crowns," ''suckcrs"
or "slips," which, though used by some
writers as one and the same, are very
different. The crowns grow on the top
of the fruit, the slips start out beneath
the base of the fruit at its junction with
the stem, and the suckers rise from the
stem at the junction with the root.
Taken altogether, about ten suckers,
slips and crowns can be obtained from
one plant, and these are sold at the rate
of a few dollars per thousand. From a
fve-acre plantation another plantation
several times larger can be planted in one
season. This rapid method of propa-
eating the plants make the industry com
paratively easy of extension. Nearly all
the planters put out new fields every
year, provided they have the land at
hand. but most of the best pineapple soil
in favorable localities has been pur,
chased and the price advanced.
From 5000 to Is, 900 pineapples can
be planted to the acre, and in from
eighteen months to two years after plant
ing the slips the plants produce fruit,
The plants need little cultivation after
the suckers have once set. but the TOP
soil requires a little stirring in order tt
prevent too rapid evaporation of the
moisture. Every sucker, slip, or crown
if properly matured, will produce ont
fine pineapple, and each grower expects tc
realize five cents apiece for the fruit aftel
transportation rates. cost of package, and
commissions have been deducted. Thi'
means $500 per acre, but some of thu
choicest varieties sell for much higher
prices, SO that from $500 to $1,000 il
realized.
The suckers are planted in rows three
feet apart either way during the rain,
season in August, and during June anc
July the crops are harvested. The pine.
apples are cut off close to the main stalt
with a sharp knife, and the thick pointed
leaves are trimmed SO that the fruit car
be packed easily. They are generoliJ
packed in barrels, from twenty-five to
thirty ssextras' in a barrel, or forty te
sixty small ones. Almost any kind O
barrel will answer the purpose, but the
large sugar barrels are the best, as the
do not cost any more for transportation
After the pines begin to come into tn
market the supply is steady, although
some dealers attempt to hold back thei
fruit until the bulk is disposed of
Florida cannot compete in the earl,
market, for the Cuban pines are always
ahead Of her, but she is gradually mo
nepolizing the trade in June and July
When the rapid increase in the cultiva
ton of the fruit, Florida will in tim,
supply all Of the home trade, dfivin,
out the imported fruits.-New Yorl
Post.
Food Frauds.