68 4 THE PINEAPPLE. 



If there is trouble from mealy-bug, red spider, or white scale, 

 spray every week with a good insecticide until the pest disap- 

 pears. The red spider works around the base of the stem, 

 causing it to decay and break off. 



VARIETIES. 



Among the numerous varieties, those which have been 

 selected for extensive planting as being the most delicious, 

 hardy, and best shippers are Red Spanish, Smooth Cayenne, 

 Porto Rico, and Queen. 



Abachi (Abbakacha), called Abbaka for short, and sometimes Bra- 

 zilian, from the country of its introduction. A tall growing plant, 

 with narrow dark-green purple-tinged leaves. Fruit a rich 

 golden yellow ; weighs five to ten pounds ; in quality fully equal 

 to Cayenne, but more tender and difficult to ship. 



Cayenne. (Smooth Cayenne.) Flowers purple; fruit cylindrical 

 and slightly conical ; dark orange, with pale yellow, rich and 

 highly flavored flesh. Excellent for winter fruiting and one of 

 the most juicy ; weight six to ten pounds. Of robust growth, 

 with long and broad dark-green leaves, nearly free from spines, 

 which is a great convenience in handling and working. Makes 

 few offsets, and can therefore be increased slowly. Very exten- 

 sively cultivated in the Azores and Sandwich Islands. 



Porto Rico. (Trinidad, Pitch Lake.) A very robust plant, pro- 

 ducing perhaps the largest fruit of any ; generally averaging eight 

 to fifteen pounds, and sometimes larger. Of fair quality and 

 flavor, and a good shipper. 



Queen. This is the Queen par excellence, and the mother of the 

 whole family of Queens, many names of which, as Lemon, Vic- 

 toria, Golden, Egyptian, and Gipsy Queen, are synonyms. One 

 of the first seedlings raised in England. The family is distin- 

 guished by an indescribably peculiar aromatic flavor, and pointed 

 conical shape of the pips, which are usually flattened in other 

 sorts. Next to the Spanish it is the most extensively cultivated, 

 being every way desirable, and perhaps the best for general pur- 

 poses. The plant is free growing, compact and handsome, com- 

 ing quickly to maturity. Fruit of an attractive yellow color, very 

 juicy, of exquisite flavor and a good keeper ; weight three to eight 

 pounds, and brings about double the price of the Spanish. 



Spanish. (Red Spanish, Key Largo, Red Pine, Havana, Cuban, 

 Black Spanish, and Strawberry.) Size of plants medium ; leaves 

 broad and sharply serrated ; fruit short and rounded ; large pips 

 or protuberances, of a very dark color, changing to a reddish- 

 yellow when ripe. Usual weight two to six pounds ; sub-acid. 



