The Lakeland evening telegram., 1914-08-26
How PineappleS Are Grown On
The East Coast OF Florida

ly in Folk county to any extent,
we are informed that consider
able area is about to be planted
in this excellent fruit in the Vi
cinity OF Davenport. For the in
formation OF these prospective
growers the following article
from the Florida Grower is pub
lished
The varieties mostly grown
are Red Spanish and Abbaka,
with a few Smooth Cayennes
and Porto Ricos and Queens.
The Red Spanish are the most
popular variety on the market.
The Abbakas and Smooth Ca
yenncs will grow on soils insult
ed for Red Spanish.
The largest acreage OF pines
will be found at Osla, Viking, St.
Lucie, Fort Pierce, Eldred, Wal
ton, Eden, Jensen, Ankona, Rio,
Stuart, Delray, Boynton, Deer
field, Pompano, Little River and
Miami, and at these points may
be grown without frost protec-
ton, though none OF these fields
have escaped frost damage at
times.
A few fields are protected from
frost damage by Slated sheds,
which cost about $3.50 or $500
per acre, but it is generally con-
sidcred more profitable to grow
them in the open.
The pineapple plant delights
in a well-drained soil and abhors
wet soil, thus the high sand
ridge along the Indian River is
particular adapted for growing
this fruit
The best land for pineapples
in our section is covered with
Hickory scrub. The next best is
covered with scrub oak or spruce
pine, or both. Uucleared land
OF this kind sells for about SIoo
per acre and very little available.
All Of the above varieties may
be grown on hatwoods soil,
which may be bought at SIS per
acre, but on these lands care
must be used in selecting loca-
ton that will be free from cold
or moist conditions.
Rich hammocks may be select
ed for the fancy Abbaka or
Smooth Cayenne varieties.
There are fields near Fort
Pierce that have borne 2I crops
without rcplanting, the average
life OF field is about IS years,
when the old plants are removed
and new ones planted.
To clear the land, cut off the
small growth level with the
ground with a brush-aXe or
machette; then grub the land to
a depth of about 10 inches with
a grub hoe, throwing the roots to
the top of the ground, where all
trash that would interfere with
cultivation may be raked up and
burned.
To clear land and put in pine
apple shape will cost from $40 to
Sl5o per acre, according to the
heaviness Of the growth on it.
Flatwoods pine land, or prairie,
may be cleared at much less eX-
pense.
After raking, mark off the land
with a marker that marks four
or five rows at time, 2IN2I
inches, which will take about I2,-
900 plants to an acre. leaving two
rows out between beds of IS
rows, for an alley to facilitate
picking during harvest time.
The price of slips in July or
August, which mature during
and after harvest, is about SO per
thousand delivered to the station
in sacks. The slips should be at
least 8 inches in length, with a
good, .Stocky butt. Trim the
slips by cutting off hall an inch
from the hard butt, and tear of
three rows OF the basil leaves
Drop a plant at the intersection
OF each row, and plant two rows
at a time, using garden troweI
to lit up the sand while the slip
is inserted about two inches and
lett upright.
Drop in the heart OF the plant
about a heaping tablespoonful Of
fertilizer that will not burn, tc
prevent sand from entering tht
heart during a beating rain. Al
ter four to six weeks, when the
,.O,,ro DI,ntS have rooted hoe