HORTICULTURE 291 



less mature specimens. The degree of maturity will depend upon 

 the market to which the product is to be shipped and to the manner 

 of shipping, whether by express, freight, or by water. In the sum- 

 mer, if the fruit is to go forward as freight it is selected when it is 

 "just turning." If it is to go by water it is selected a little less ma- 

 ture, and if by express the fruit may be permitted to become "quite 

 well colored." The matter of selecting depends so much on judg- 

 ment that no fast rule can be laid down. The distance from the 

 market, the condition of the weather, and the variety planted are all 

 factors which must be considered. 



Care in Handling. Handling begins when the laborer has 

 seized the fruit to be broken, and ends, so far as the grower is con- 

 cerned, when the fruit is on the railway platform or on the steam- 

 boat dock. The laborer who goes among the fruit is usually pro- 

 vided with a pair of leggings that reach above the knees and a pair 

 of mittens made of canvas. 



He seizes the pineapple usually in both hands, and gives it a 

 slight twisting bend to cause the stem to snap off a half inch or so 

 below the fruit. "Breaking pines" requires skill and attention. If 

 the stem be broken off too near to the fruit it is apt to rot in transit, 

 and if the stem is broken too long it has to be broken again at the 

 shed at a loss of considerable time. Only the more intelligent and 

 better laborers are sent into the land to break or to cut pines. After 

 breaking, the pineapples are tossed to a laborer standing in the path- 

 way between the beds, who catches them and lays them down care- 

 fully. From this place they are collected in large baskets or in field 

 crates and hauled to the packing shed. (F. B. 140.) 



Marketing. If the fruit can be sold at a fair figure at the pack- 

 ing house, it is usually best to take it. Then someone else than the 

 grower has to assume the responsibility of market fluctuations and 

 delays in transportations. Frequently the crop is sold in advance at 

 a certain fixed rate per crate. Such contracts usually cover the fruit 

 harvested within a certain period. The private trade in pineapples 

 has assumed considerable proportions. To the larger grower this 

 method of marketing pineapples is not very inviting owing to the 

 extra amount of time and care required. But it is worthy the serious 

 consideration of the small grower. 



The fruit supplied to a private trade should be of the best qual- 

 ity, carefully selected, neatly and tastefully packed. In dealing 

 with private customers every effort should be made to give the same 

 grade of fruit in every order. Uniformity is absolutely necessary in 

 holding the good will and confidence of a private customer. All 

 packages for the private trade must usually go forward by express. 



The bulk of the m'neapple crop is handled either directly or in- 

 directly by the commission merchants. The main objection to the 

 commission merchant system of selling fruit, is that the grower has 

 to place himself ^ entirely in his hands. There seems, however, no 

 way of overcoming this objection. There are honest men in the 

 commission business, as large a proportion as in any other line of 

 endeavor, and there are always ways and means of finding out which 



