COOK AND COLLINS—ECONOMIC PLANTS OF PORTO RICO, 79 
especially since the small importations which have already been made from Porto 
Rico were badly damaged by sun scald. 
It is not impossible, however, that situations might be found in Porto Rico 
where the injury from this cause would be very slight, and there is a further 
probability that if shade proves to be necessary it can be supplied more cheaply 
by means of some of the many leguininous shade trees, which will also assist in 
maintaining the fertility of the land. We did not notice any plantings which 
seemed to have been nade with reference to shade, although it is well known in 
the Tropics that partial protection from the sun encourages the growth of large 
pineapple fruits. 
Serious competition on the part of Porto Rico with the well-developed pineapple 
industry of Florida is not to be expected for a series of years, though the very 
favorable natural conditions render it certain that an increasing quar tity of this 
fruit will be sent to the American market. The Florida supply does not, how- 
ever, meet the popular demand, even at prices far in advance of the actual cost of 
raising and marketing the fruit, and at more reasonable rates there is little doubt 
that the present consumption would be quickly doubled or trebled, There is, 
accordingly, ample room for the expansion of pineapple growing as an agricul- 
tural industry both in Florida and in Porto Rico. 
Local conditions and varieties. —The pineapple season at Ponce is from April to 
July. after which time none are obtainable. Small-sized fruits of fine flavor and 
texture are preferred, and cominand a higher price than the large ones for which 
the island is particularly noted. On the north side of the island pineapples are 
said to be obtainable from April to September. Those at higher altitudes ripen 
first, while lower down the crop is not ready for market until July, though the 
fruits are of better quality. 
Sandy and gravelly loams are the preferable soils for fruit production in Porto 
Rico, although the plants apparently thrive in all situations. Limestone soils not 
subject to too great drought are also desirable. To facilitate clean culture the 
plants are set 3 feet (90 centimeters) apart in rows 5 feet (150 centimeters) apart. 
The same piece of ground remains productive from four to eight years, dependent 
upon soil and culture. For shipment the fruits are cut before the commencement 
of the ripening process, and it is desirable to make a clean cut and leave an inch 
(25 millimeters) or more of the stem to avoid decay and prevent drying out. 
With proper packing and ventilation pineapples will not suffer at all from the 
brief sea voyage, and the shipping rates will probably be as low as or lower than 
from Florida, The transportation difficulties arising on shore will not, however, 
be so easy of adjustment in the near future, except in the immediate vicinity of 
the ports, and will undoubtedly retard the development of the pineapple business. 
The custom so prevalent in Porto Rico of placing the sliced fruit in salt water 
before eating is evidently very old, as Acosta says of the inhabitants of the West 
Indies, ** They eat it being cut in morsels and steeped a while in water and salt.”’ 
There is also a belicf, more or less widespread, in Porto Rico that pineapples 
and coffee should not be partaken of at the same meal. 
An insect cenemy.—On both sides of the island young pineapples were found to 
be infested by a mealy-bug, which is said to prevent normal growth and finally 
to rot the fruit. The same insects are also to be found in great numbers on the 
Bromelia ‘* pifiuelas,”’ or wild pines, a related plant found everywhere in Porto 
Rico. To be rid of the mealy-bugs it may be found necessary to destroy all the 
Bromelias in the neighborhood of pineapple farms. It is not likely that the ants 
would carry the mealy-bugs any great distance, though a separation of several rods 
would probably be required. An experiment with kerosene emulsion for driving 
away the insects which had already settled was reported as quite successful. 
