PINE- APPLE CULTURE. 169 



are "eyes," which, treated like grape cuttings, are also 

 used to increase rare varieties. 



From these sources suckers, crowns, crownlets, slips, 

 and eyes pine-apples are easily and abundantly propa- 

 gated, and these are usually sought after in the order 

 named, from the idea that suckers fruit first, crowns next, 

 and so on. 



This too, however, has been shown to be an erroneous 

 impression ; the fact is, that the size of the plant alone 

 governs its fruiting. Given a large sucker and a small 

 slip, and keep them growing equally fast, then, of course, 

 the sucker will fruit first, the slip last ; but reverse these 

 conditions, take a large slip and a small sucker, and the 

 slip will be the first to yield up its luscious treasure. 



It is of no advantage t*> send to a nursery or else- 

 where for ready-rooted plants. Get as large sized plants 

 as you can to start with, but any roots that they may 

 have before coming into your possession you may count 

 as nil. 



Pine-apple rootlets are of so tender and perishable a na- 

 ture that even if they survive transplanting, they will be 

 longer in reviving and going to work again than new roots 

 will be in forming and taking hold ; consequently, rooted 

 plants are no desideratum. 



It is a very easy matter to root suckers, crowns, crown- 

 lets, and slips after you have them on the ground ready 

 for planting, and it is better to start them on their root- 

 ward journey before setting them out in their permanent 

 places. 



As a preliminary, carefully pull off the overlapping 

 leaves at the base for an inch or half inch, according to 

 the size of the offsets ; this will facilitate the rooting pro- 

 cess ; then make a bed of damp moss, keep it damp, and 

 place them, base downward, in it, just as you would place 



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