264 THE CHIEF SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL CROPS 



ting of the leaves, attacks and kills the young twigs, 

 and blasts or rots the young fruits. It can be con- 

 trolled by Bordeaux, and spraying may prove neces- 

 sary in commercial lime growing. 



Commercial citron is the thick preserved and 

 dried rind of another large lemon-shaped citrus 

 fruit (^Citrus medico). It is found occasionally in 

 south Florida and the islands, but it is nowhere 

 cultivated on a commercial scale. 



Tropical Fruits 



Among the great numbers of tropical fruits only 

 pineapples and bananas are as yet of any real com- 

 mercial importance outside of the local markets. 

 Mangoes and avocates are, however, beginning to 

 receive considerable attention, and without doubt the 

 better varieties of them will soon be widely planted 

 for Northern shipment. 



Pineapple (^na^ias). — This fruit is extensively 

 planted for market in south Florida, the Bahamas, 

 Cuba, and Porto Rico, and it is locally important in 

 all the other tropical countries. It will not endure 

 much frost and in Florida it is largely grown under 

 the protection of lathe houses. The partial shade 

 thus afforded seems congenial and adds to the vigor 

 and productiveness of the plants. In the tropics they 

 are usually grown in the open. Occasionally, how- 

 ever, they are shaded by bananas. 



Pineapples will grow on a great variety of soils, 

 provided only they are dry and well drained. On 

 damp, heavy soil the plants are short lived and the 

 fruit is lacking in flavor. In Florida most of the 



