Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1898-06-07
THE PINEAPPLE UNDER COVER.

The pineapple is native to Central
and South America, and is found wild
along small streams in open timber
In Brazil they are planted under
large trees after the underbrush has
been taken out, on land that is rich
after that they receive no further cul-
ture
Pineapple cultivation in Florida, l
may say, has all come about within the
past twenty years. Key Largo and
some others of the Florida keys, by
reason of their having no cold to in
lure them, were the first parts of the
state to embark in the industry that is
now coming to the front as one of our
most important ones.
From the keys planting has extended
up the Indian river until there are
many thousands of acres planted,
which have paid handsome profits. The
tirst paintings were of the red Spanish
and it is kept up, many growers con-
tending that it is the best pineapple for
that section. They are planted in the
open field pretty close together, with
out much regard as to what is to fol-
low; often | have found them in large
blocks with no alleys to work on, or
from which to take out the fruit.
believe that if the finer kinds were
planted, and better system of culture
adopted, the profits would be much
more
The late A. l. Bidwel in his time
was looked up to as the brightest hor
TiculturiSt in the state. He was the
first to start the culture of pineapp1es
at Orlando. His start in Florida was
first made near Jacksonville. He raised
some pineapples there, l think, only
Of the common red Spanf51 variety.
He came to Orlando some fifteen years
ago hoping, as he has told me, "to
get below the frost line He planted
several varieties of the better varieties
He gots his plants from London gar
dener, and they cost him there 81 and
81 each. He originated the Orlando
pineapple shed, which is now so mucn
IN use. With it we take our plants
through the cold waves with little OF
no injury. Mr.. Bidwell did not take
any other means to prevent the plants
being injured with cold.
/ remember some ten years ago Sug
costing to a man who is now one of
our largest growers here that fires
could be built in these sheds, ami in
that way the temperature raised Sew
eral degrees. He remarked that it was
a scientific fact that where artificial
heat was used, that the cold would be
Drawn in, and that it would be colder
within few feet from the fire than
If there were no fire. That idea may
have been correct in theory, but we are
now building small fires, pretty close
together, all through the pinery, which
are kept up until danger is over, and
We find we can keep the temperature
up several degrees above what it would
be without the fires, and in that way
save the plants.
Orlando has bee )me noted fro its fine
pineapples In the first planting-eX-
cept the start first made by Mr.. Bid
well-the common kinds were used;
all these have since been thrown away,
and only the larger, finer, improved
sorts are planted. / think there has
been more thought, more scientific cul-
ture given here than at any other part
Of the state, and the growers are being
well paid for the care they bestow on
this new industry to Florida. which
the experiences of the past four years
have demonstrated to be our safest
crop.
The pineapple being an air plant,
goes through our extremes of drought
With no harm, except that the growth
she severe cold of last January 5, many
Of the pineries show but little, and |
some no injury.
Another point that our growers are |
careful to look after is that the plants |
are all the time supplied with proper |
fertilizer-all that they will take up
of elements that not only make large |
apples, but that are fine in qaulity, and |
that carry well to far-away markets
Protection from cold is not the only |
benefit of the pineapples shed; the
plants grow better, fruit is larger and |
finer in quality when shaded in part |
from the direct rays OF the sun, and !
the plant is protected from winds.
II is much warmer inside than out
side of the shed, and, as the pineapple |
revels in heat, our hot climate just |
suits thames Mott in Florida Times |
Union.