The National tribune., 1909-09-30

Russef, named by some Daddy of the
pineapple industry" began experiment.
ing with a view to demonstrating the
commercial possibilities of pineapple
culture in Florida. He started with
seven varieties, and after much pains
taking investigation and experimenting,
succeeded in advancing the industry
from almost nothing to a point where
It became established as paying prop
osition. In order to have a better grade
of fruit, he found it necessary to culti-
vate the finer varieties, and with this
idea in mind assembled together some
81 varieties of pineapples, from which
five were finally selected as being the
best. Among these the Smooth Cayenne
is thought by many growers to be the
finest all-round fancy apple possible to
grow.
Shading the Fruit.
Being found in forests in its wild
state, where moisture and partial shade
were always guaranteed, it was but nat
urai to think of some sort of covering
for the cultivated pineapple In the
early days some growers used thin cloth
covering for their pinery sheds, but ex-
perience has proved that half shade is
best. Wooden Stats three inches wide
with an equal space between, forms a
latdcelike covering which distributes the
shade and sunlight evenly and protects
both plant and fruit from too much
Gun and also from frost. This sort of
covering prevents "sunburn;" il en-
ables the fruit to fully mature before
ripenfng. and TO some extent prevents
the evaporation of moisture.
Some varieties, like the common Red
Spanish. are grown in open fields quite
successfully, altho it is generally con-
ceded that they do not approach the
shielded pines either in delicacy of
flavor or tenderness of fiber. Pines
grown in the open are apt to be full of
core and woody fiber, besides being
diminutive in size.
Best Land for PineappIes.
Pineapples can be grown in Florida
on almost any good level land which
VIII hold moisture. altho there are some
kinds OF soil which are much superior
TO others for their culture. OF course.
low, swampy places are excepted and
muck land is not suitable for this fruit
A mixture of sand and much is prefer
able: high, spruce-pine hammock is
the best possible location for a pincry.
Longleaf pine lands will produce
good. sizeable apples for from three to
hve years, while spruce-pine lands con-
tInue to raise excellent fruit for an in
definite period of time. Being almost
destitute OF humus. these spruce pine
hammocks require the addition of muck
or cow manure, but the latter should
~ NINu JoultIOuSIss tlSt lIltTt Is udIlSeT
OF injury to the keeping qualities Of the
fruit.
Flowing and FcrtiIizing.
After dressing the sand land with a
moderate amount of muck dry sifted
muck is besD. it should be plowed rath-
er shallow, then fertiliZed with com
mercial fertilizer. Using cultiyator TO
pulvcrize the soil and to mix in the
fertilizer thoroly, the beds are ready
to level off with rakes preparatory 10
planting.
Blood, bone and potash in proper pro-
portions furnish sufficient nourish:nent
TO develop fine, tender fruit and 10 grow
healthy plants for prop2Rative purposes
Sometimes nitrate of soda can be used
with marvellous results in quickening
the growth of young. backward plants
and in stimulating the growth Of older
plants which have become dwarfed thru,
disease or lack of moisture. This fer
tilizer is Immediately available for
plant food, and often shows the effects
Of an application in "a hours, more
particularly when used to stimulate the
growth of such vegetables as beets.
In fertilizIng for pneapples about
one-fourth to one-third of a pound oi
mixed fertilizer is required for each
plant every three months.
Propagation is from seed. slips. suck
ers and crowns. Slips and suckers 8rt
most used, with a preference for III,
latter, as they grow from the body o.
the plants and are generally strong and
healthy. Slips are formed near tn,
base Of the fruit and are of slower
growth.
a vigorous 12-inch sucker will frul
in from 12 to IA months, while a sln
will take from IS to 20 months to bear
Both should be stripped of a few leaves
at the base of the plant, SO as to ex