PINE- APPLE CULTURE. 173 



Yet another way of protecting pine-apples, and, in fact, 

 any plant from frost, is to make ready here and there, espe- 

 cially to the north and west of the plantation, small piles of 

 heavy timber, with light-wood knots ready for kindling on 

 the approach of frost. Plenty of leaves and dampened 

 brush should also be at hand to cast on the blaze when 

 once fairly started, so as to make a "smudge fire" that 

 is, one that will give out a sufficient heat while not burn- 

 ing away freely or clearly, the more smoke, the better. 



The cold winds that sweep Florida once or twice in ordi- 

 nary winters invariably come from the northwest, and in 

 arranging these protecting "smudge fires," this should be 

 held in mind, and the cold winds made useful by wafting 

 the warmest air just where it is wanted. 



Although, as we have seen, new varieties can only be 

 obtained from those very rare jewels, pine-apple seeds, and 

 not more than one in a hundred of these is of any value, 

 yet by long years of patience and perseverance a number 

 of varieties have been secured. Of these the following 

 have been introduced and successfully cultivated in Flor- 

 ida ; doubtless others will follow : 



SPANISH. 



This pine-apple has a bewildering number of aliases, as 

 follows : "The Red Spanish," " Red Pine," because of the 

 reddish tint of its leaves and bloom ; " Black Spanish" and 

 " Black Jamaica," because in certain stages of its growth 

 the fruit is very dark, almost black; and last, "Commer- 

 cial Pine," because of its fine shipping qualities, which 

 cause it to rank high in a commercial point of view. 



This plant fruits sooner than the Sugar-loaf, and bears 

 a greater degree of cold without injury, and also grows 

 more thrifty on poor land, but the quality of its fruit is 

 not so good. The latter drawback, however, is not con- 



