INTRODUCED PLANTS AND ANIMALS. 261 



Though this fungus has long l)een found on the fruit gi'owii here, its effects 

 are never serious. 



The history of the development of the banana business is an intei'esting 

 one, Imt it must suffice here to note that the tirst exportation of tlic ft-nit was 

 made in 186-1, when 121 bunches woe shi|)p(Ml 1o the niainlaml. 



Pineapples. 



The pin('api>le '" is a native of America, and is the most important niciiiIxT 

 of the family ^^ in w^iicli it is placed. This family has nothing whatever to do 

 wdth either the pine or the apple families. The pineapple is a sorosis, or col- 

 lection of fruits formed by the cohesion into a mass of the ovaries and i)ei-iantlis 

 of the compact fruit. The flowers themselves are abortive. In the cultivated 

 pineapple, seeds are rarely found, but the wild variety, from v/hicli it oi'i^inalcd. 

 has many seeds. 



In Hawaii it is extensively cultivated, and was of early introduction. It 

 seems well adapted to the islands and several varieties are grown, which produce 

 fruit of the most excellent flavor. There are instances where the fruit has es- 

 caped or has been abandoned, where it is to be found growing in a wild state. 



As is w^ell knowai, the plant usually produces but a single fruit crowded in a 

 rosette of stifif serrated leaves, on the top of the stem of the plant, which ma- 

 tures in from twelve to tw^enty months. The fruit is itself crowned with a 

 cluster of stiff leaves. The plant is propagated by means of slips, suckers, 

 crowns and rattoons. Over fifty well-defined varieties are recognized, some of 

 them quite distinct forms, which vary widely in color, size and flavor. The 

 most important species grow^n locally are limited to a few carefully selected 

 types that are especially suited to the requirements of the canneries. 



Fruits of the largest species not infreciuently attain a weight of t\velv(> or 

 more pounds. The crop is harvested at certain seasons, but fresh fruit reach 

 the market the year around. The plants are not entirely free fnmi pests and 

 diseases. The most serious disease, perhaps, is known as the ''pincapifle dis- 

 ease" of sugar-cane. This disease, which attacks the fruit causing it \o preuui- 

 turely decay and ferment, w-as first discovered on cane and received its name 

 from the fact that it produced an odor in the decaying cane similar to that of 

 the pineapple. 



The Avocado or Allig.vtou Pear. 



The avocado, or alligator pear,'- thouuh lechnically a fruit, is from tlic 

 culinary standpoint a salad vegetable, in that it is used much the sanu^ as the 

 cucumber, since it is usually eaten with salt, pepper and vinegar. It is almost 

 the only fruit which is eaten only as a salad. Persons wln) are serve(l with this 

 curious pear-shaped fruit for the first time nve usually disappointed. Hul a just 

 valuation of the rich nutty or butter-like flavor of the fruit is soon acquired, 

 and once it is fully appreciated the taste becomes little short of a craving. 



^"Ananas .siitini. ^'^ Brdiiirliiicrip. ^- Per.scn ^/rdtisxinia. 



