PINEAPPLE CULTURE IN SOUTH AFRICA 



THINNING OE SUCKERS TO PRODUCE BETTER FRUIT. 



The number of suckers allowed to remain on the plant may 

 be briefly as follows : 



After the first plant has developed fruit, not more than two, 

 in the closer planting, should be allowed to remain for fruiting 

 the following season, and three in the wider ones; the follow- 

 ing season two of each fruiting plant will give four in the 

 closer planted, and six in the wider. By the next season these 

 allowed at the same rate will give 8 and 12 respectively, which 

 in both cases is too many. Six should be the limit in the closer, 

 and 10 the limit in the wider plantings. All the rest should 

 be removed from the plant as soon as they are large enough 

 to handle. It is important to note that removal should take 

 place as soon as it is possible (unless plants are needed for 

 extension of planting), before they have a chance to sap the 

 vigour from the parent plant. If this course is followed, there 

 will be a marked improvement in the size and quality of the 

 fruit. The suckers to remove are those nearest the top, not 

 those which are coming from the base, or below the soil level. 

 This applies particularly to such varieties as Smooth Cayenne, 

 which, owing to its weight, must have as much support as 

 possible, and if suckers are allowed to remain ,,well up the 

 original stem, they may thrive and do well until fruit appears, 

 after which, having no fresh root hold, they are liable to topple 

 over and in many cases break right off. leaving the grower to 

 mourn the loss of his fruit. 



FERTILISERS OR MANURES. 



The application of fertiliser must depend to a very large 

 extent on the system of planting adopted, the richness or other- 

 wise of the land, and the age of the plantation. If the closer 

 planting of 2 by 2, whether in block or bed form, is adopted 

 and the soil is poor, lacking in nitrogen and potash, it is advis- 

 able to apply a fertiliser containing a high percentage of the 

 former as soon after planting as the roots commence to de- 

 velop. A good start means as much to the Pine plantation as 

 to other plant life. The system on very poor soil, found to 

 answer best, is the application at the rate of half a ton to the 

 acre of a fertiliser containing a fairly high percentage of 

 potash, about two mouths after planting. It is sown along 

 each side of the row and worked in with a single wheel planet 

 junior, or similar hoe, and cultivator, using the cultivating teeth. 

 The following year a ton to the acre is applied of a fertiliser 

 containing a small percentage of ammonia and high percentage 

 of potash, worked in the same way, and a yearly application of 

 this follows. The working, however in subsequent years is by 

 means of the scuffle hoe. The .application takes place just at 

 tb commencement of a rainy season. This applies to both 



15 



