288 HORTICULTURE, FORESTRY, FLORICULTURE 



smooth. This variety is immensely popular on the East coast. 

 (Fla. E. S. B. 37.) 



Climate. The culture of this crop should not be attempted in 

 a latitude where winter frosts occur unless one is prepared to provide 

 the proper protection. Neither does the pineapple flourish in the ex- 

 tremely hot portions of the globe. Its largest acreage is confined to 

 the islands or to the seacoast. The best pineapple region in the world 

 has a mean temperature of from 75 to 80. Key West, off the coast 

 of Florida, has a mean annual temperature of about 76 ; Jupiter, in 

 the midst of the pineapple region, about 73. The mean annual 

 temperature in a large part of the pineapple section of Florida is 

 thus comparatively low. 



Soil. The proper selection of soil for pineapples is the most 

 important problem in connection with their culture. The require- 

 ments of this plant in this respect are so different from the ordinary 

 fruits that it took many experiments to convince the would-be pine- 

 apple grower that he has here a plant that demands a soil utterly 

 intolerable to the ordinary crops of vegetables. This crop can be 

 grown upon land that will produce ordinary vegetables, but the soil 

 must be of a loose and open nature and not allowed to become water- 

 soaked. It is not the fertility nor the humus in the soil that is detri- 

 mental to the pineapple, but it is the want of free drainage. 



The soil prepared by the gardeners who grow this crop under 

 glass illustrates this point. Their standard formula is about as fol- 

 lows: Two parts decomposed fibrous loam, one part well-decayed 

 manure, another part one-half inch bones and pounded oyster shells. 

 From this it is seen that even where the control over temperature 

 and moisture is the most perfect the texture of the favorite soil is 

 open and decidedly loose. The directions for watering are fully as 

 interesting: "Moderately in winter and freely in summer." 



After the field has been thoroughly cleared it is laid off into 

 lands of widths to suit the purposes of the planter. A favorite dis- 

 tance, where the field is extensive, is to lay the lands off about 60 

 feet wide. This leaves a distance of about 30 feet for the man who 

 breaks the fruit to toss it to the man in the pathway one side of a 

 land being picked over at a time. 



The lands are laid off in varying checks, favorite distances be- 

 ing 18 by 18 to 22 by 22 inches for the smaller varieties, 22 by 22 

 to 30 by 30 inches for the medium sized, and from 30 by 30 to 48 

 by 48 inches for the largest varieties, or the distance between the 

 rows may be greater than that between the plants in the row. A 

 favorite distance for Red Spanish is 18 by 22. Smooth Cayennes 

 are often planted 20 by 30 inches apart. 



The method of planting in beds about 15 feet wide under sheds 

 has been practiced for a considerable time and is gaining in favor. 

 This allows the laborers to use the shuffle hoe without going between 

 the plants, and also to apply the fertilizer by merely stepping among 

 the plants of the first two rows. It is always necessary to exercise 

 the greatest care in order to avoid breaking the leaves. On the 



