IN THE EVERGLADES 113 



twenty-four inches, and even farther for Smooth Cayenne and 

 Porto Rico. They should be planted preferably in the month of 

 August; and by all means, if suckers are procurable, they should 

 be given preference. After first cleaning off the surface leaves 

 from the stem end, they may be laid aside for a few days in a 

 shady place to start their roots, which they will do in the course 

 of a week or ten days in this humid climate, and at this season 

 of the year. 



In the meantime the beds should be carefully prepared by 

 digging out all stones, sticks and trash of any kind. Rake to a 

 smooth even surface, elevating the center of each bed slightly 

 to facilitate the removal of surface water. Marks should then 

 be struck out the desired distance apart; mark the other way in 

 squares. A depression is then made with a pole or stick of 

 suitable size corresponding in diameter with the butts of the 

 pineapple slips and the plants firmly pressed into the soil. Care 

 must be taken not to press them in too deep but just so they will 

 stand upright firmly without toppling over. If the soil is sandy, 

 there will be danger of their being washed in the crowns by 

 heavy rains, and it is necessary, therefore, to drop a small amount 

 of cotton seed meal or ground castor pomace in the hearts. Thus 

 if sand should accumulate in the hearts, the castor pomace or 

 cotton seed meal unites with it and makes a sticky mass, which 

 will adhere to the leaves and will be removed by the growth 

 of the plant as they grow from the center; the .plant will thus 

 clean itself. 



Another excellent method with which I have had splendid 

 results is mulching the field thoroughly with any kind of grass, 

 such as glade hay or weeds, from nearby fields. This is first 

 spread over the entire surface of the field to a uniform depth of 

 two or three inches and the plants are planted in this mass at 

 regular distances apart as before stated. By following this method 

 no trouble whatever will be had later with grass or weeds as this 

 mulching will effectually smother out all such growth and will 

 supply the pineapple plants for a number of years with decayed 



