TAC CHB UAS IR ARV EE 13 
Pineapples in Cuba 
By H. O. Neville 
Even many years before the War of Independence, the visitor to the country dis- 
tricts immediately surrounding Havana would have found large areas of flat reddish 
colored soil occupied by low thorny plants, the long slender leaves of which, resembling 
those of a cactus, sprang from a central axis or stem attaining a height of from eight to 
eighteen inches, depending on the vigor of growth and variety of plant, topped during 
the months between January and June with a fruit slightly longer than broad, running 
from four to six inches or more in diameter and from four to eight inches in length. If 
unknown to him, upon inquiring he would ascertain that this plant and fruit was the 
pineapple, whose luscious quality has made it a favorite in practically all lands to which 
it has been shipped. Even at that early day, the pineapple industry was a rather im- 
portant one, bringing in considerable profit to the Island, though the results were not as 
favorable as would have been the case had greater care of the fruit been taken and better 
packing and transportation methods prevailed. Since then the importance of the in- 
dustry has increased along with the number of crates produced, until at one time about 
1,250,000 crates were being shipped, this quantity having been lowered during the recent 
period of high prices of sugar until at the present time the area planted would yield ina 
normal agricultural season about 1,000,000 crates, and this year due to the effect of 
drought will probably produce about 800,000 crates. 
An article on the pineapple in Cuba must necessarily treat the three phases of the 
industry relating to production, harvesting and preparation for market, and marketing. 
The pineapple is more or less of an air plant, demanding as it does a free circulation 
of air about its roots. The soils, therefore, upon which pineapples can be favorably 
grown are limited to those whose drainage is good, the lighter class of soil as a general 
tule being given preference. In Cuba excellent results have been obtained in the red 
soils of Havana Province and in the sandy loam district of Pinar del Rio Province and 
of the Isle of Pines, though in these soils the use of large quantities of first-class fertilizer 
is essential. Nearly all the pines grown for export, except those of the Smooth Cayenne 
variety grown on the Isle of Pines, are produced on the light red soils already referred to, 
though a fairly large percentage of Cuba’s total crop is produced on a somewhat heavier 
type of red soil, the plantings being so made as to furnish excellent drainage with the 
consequent easy penetration of air into the soil around the roots of the plants. 
Three varieties of pineapples are grown in Cuba for commercial purposes. These 
are in order of importance: the Red Spanish, the Sugar Loaf, known also as Pifa 
Blanca or Pifia Criolla, and the Smooth Cayenne. The Spanish pineapple is that 
found in at least ninety-nine per cent. of the commercial plantings of this fruit 
throughout the Island, but it is considered a pineapple for export or for local use 
only in making pineapple drinks, ices, etc., although even for this purpose the Sugar 
Loaf is preferred. Its fruit is slightly longer than broad, and when properly ripened is 
of a deep orange red color. For eating purposes as a fruit and also for the making of 
drinks, pineapple ices and other local uses of this character, the Sugar Loaf pineapple 
is the favorite among all Cubans, as its almost fiberless flesh and delicate sweet flavor 
lend themselves admirably to these purposes, presenting a decided contrast to the rather 
tough, coarse flesh and somewhat acid flavor of the Red Spanish. The fruit of this 
variety is slender, averages about four to five inches in diameter, and six to eight inches 
long, its skin is of a light yellow color when ripe, with an almost pure white flesh. It is 
edible when much less mature than any other variety. The Smooth Cayenne pineapple 
was introduced to Cuba by the Americans who settled in the La Gloria District of 
Camagiiey Province and in the Isle of Pines. It is a fruit entirely distinct from either 
of the other two just mentioned, being much larger, averaging under favorable cultural 
conditions from ten to twelve pounds, and being composed of a luscious, tender flesh of a 
deeper yellow color than that of the well-ripened Red Spanish, and of a very agreeable 
