266 THE CHIEF SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL CROPS 



ever, too delicate to stand ordinary shipment. Heavy 

 losses often occur in handling even the green ones, 

 especially if they are picked during or after very 

 wet weather. This loss could doubtless be largely 

 avoided, -and the fruit be at the same time marketed 

 in a riper condition by the use of proper refrigerator 

 transportation. 



A considerable number of varieties of pines are 

 known, but only a very few are of commercial 

 importance. The one most generally planted for 

 the Northern market is the Red Spanish. This 

 is a small or medium-sized acid pine of rather 

 poor quality, but it is hardy and productive and 

 ships better than any of the others. The Smooth 

 Cayenne and the Porto Rico or Cabazona are two 

 very large pines that are grown in a small way for 

 the fancy trade. While very showy, both are rather 

 acid and cannot be classed as of the best quality. 

 Unfortunately the sweetest, highest-flavored kinds, 

 that are most prized for home consumption, like the 

 Ripley and the Sugar loaf or Piiia Blanca, are so 

 delicate that they will not stand ordinary transpor- 

 tation. 



As a rule pines are comparatively free from diseases 

 and insect pests. Whilethej^havetheir troubles, these 

 are mostly obscure and unimportant and space cannot 

 be taken to discuss them. 



Bananas {Musa). — In the space of a single gen- 

 eration the banana has passed from a rare luxury to 

 an article of common everyday necessity, and its 

 production and marketing has developed into an 

 immense industry. The business is largely in the 



