142 



Where the cell nuclei of the pineapple are unaltered, and the 

 granular appearances indicative of the protoplasm are pres- 

 ent, one naturally does not expect to find traces of such organ- 

 isms in abundance. (3n the contrary, where the cell nuclei 

 are absent, and the cells show other indications of disorgan- 

 ization, there the observer pauses to look carefully in the hope 

 of finding the culprits that are responsible for the poor quality 

 of the pineapple or the "going bad" of the tins. 



One of the most abundant organisms in tins that have 

 swollen or liave burst through the action of ferments are the 

 yeast organisms and similar cells. These will be present in 

 all tins that have the ordinar}^ odor of fermentation. In cases 

 where the odor differs from this characteristic, alcoholic or 

 sour odor of fermentation, the organisms will be different and 

 may even in some cases take on the character of mycelium. 



It is not often, however, that one may expect to find liv- 

 ing mycelium. More often the mycelium will be such as was 

 present before the cooking process, and therefore such as has 

 been altered by that process. In general, the stained portions 

 where the cells are most altered have a definite relation to the 

 location of the fibrovascular bundles of the fruit. The axis 

 of the pine is composed largely of fibers or fibrovascular bun- 

 dles. From place to place the central bundle of fibers gives 

 oft* groups of strands or fibrovascular bundles, these bundles 

 corresponding in number with tiie carpels or points or prickles 

 on the surface of the fruit. When a slice of pine is discolored as 

 shown in the photograph, it will be found that it is these 

 groups of bundles that are stained, and that the stain is there- 

 fore associated with tlie vascular axis of the carpels. So far 

 as the stains extend, there are as many stains as there are car- 

 pels. It is a noteworthy fact that the funo;i of pineapple 

 diseases are associated with staining of the fibrovascular bun- 

 dles, very likeh^ because they have very definite relations to 

 air. Air is present m the bundles, and it is this fact, perhaps, 

 that determines the line of attack of the fungus. WHien the 

 ])ine goes wrong from the root end, as is sometimes the case 

 with Thiclai'iopsis, it is easy to see that the effect must be 

 about that seen in ihe case of the slices that have "s'one off" 

 after tinning. The chemical influence of the rot will extend 

 in advance of the rot along the vascular bundles, as in the 

 case of cane and other plants. 



In spite of all precautions, it is to be expected that some 

 fruit will rot on the field. What should be done with this rot- 

 ten fruit? It should be destroyed, by fire or otherwise. 

 Moreover, the stumps of such rotten fruits should be imme- 

 diately dug up and destroyed at the same time. All the 



