78 FRUITS 



one juicy mass, and form what we call a pineapple. At its top 

 is a tuft of leaves called the crown. 



' It is as great as a Mellon, f aire of colour, somewhat yellow, 

 green and carnation, when it begins to bee ripe, the greene- 

 nesse thereof turneth into an orange colour, it is of a pleasant 

 taste, and hath a fine smelle like an Apricocke, so that it is 

 to be smelt farre off, when you see the fruit afarre off, being 

 greene, it sheweth like Artichokes.' (A.D. 1600.) 



CULTIVATION. The pineapple is a native of the north of 

 South America, and in its wild state grows in sandy places 

 not far from the sea. In cultivation it thrives best where these 

 conditions prevail, but it will grow well almost anywhere so 

 long as it has warmth and sufficient moisture. It is exceedingly 

 sensitive to cold, and, though it does not need the great heat 

 of the tropics, the least frost kills it at once. In Florida, 

 where pines are extensively grown, sheds are erected to protect 

 the plants from the occasional frosts which occur. 



After fruiting the plant dies down, but suckers grow up 

 and take its place. When new plantations are required, these 

 suckers are cut off and set in the earth. They bear fruit 

 about a year after they are planted. The weight of a pine- 

 apple varies : on a Queensland plantation 2J Ib. is considered 

 a fair average (though some weigh as much as 12 Ib.), and 

 an acre will produce twelve thousand of them. 



SOURCES OF SUPPLY. Pineapples are grown in nearly all 

 countries where the climate is warm and moist enough to 

 suit them, but they are most extensively cultivated in Cuba, 

 South America, and the Hawaiian Islands. 



In the British Empire the West Indies used to be famous 

 for their pines, but of late years the export has fallen off, 

 though considerable quantities are still exported from the 

 Bahamas and Montserrat. 



The growing of pineapples forms an important industry 

 in the Malay Peninsula, and Singapore is one of the great 

 world centres for the export of tinned pineapples. 



Queensland. ' If there is one fruit which Queensland can 



