THE HOTHOUSE PINEAPPLE 193 



should be remo\ed by gently twisting tiiem oft" with tlie hand; then remove a 

 few of the small lea\es, and make a clean cut at the base of tiie shoot, wiiich 

 is now ready for potting up. The size of the pot depends on the strength of 

 the sucker. Generally a three-inch to four-and-one-half-inch pot will be sufTi- 

 cient. It will root readily in a mixture of loam and sand, within two or three 

 weeks, if kept in a pinestove temperature, especially if there is also bottom 



Pineapple Qleen 



The above illustration shows a portion of a house of Pineapples planted in a bed of soil. 



Thus treated, they undoubtedly make more rapid progress than when grown in pots 



heat. It is therefore well to secure the young stock early in the Spring, while 

 the fires are still running, or to wait until the fires are again started in the Fall. 

 While the suckers will also root at any time in the Summer without bottom 

 heat, the stock set out with bottom heat will root more quickly and will come 

 on more satisfactorily. 



One thing is to be noted here: never allow the plants to get potbound or 

 stunted in any way before planting. A stunted Pineapple is practically useless, for 

 it would make an attempt to fruit before being strongenough to support its load. 



