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The best varieties imported are the Smooth Cayenne, the Ripley, 
and the Queen. 
Queensland growers vet on an average for all grades, 3s. per 
dozen; Melbourne wholesale dealers, from 4s. upwards. This fruit is 
cheaper in the summer, and the price per case containing 12 to 15 
is 4s. to 6s., and occasionally 10s. for choice fruit in Melbourne. 
Taking the cost of a case of this fruit at 6s. Melbourne, 2s. 
freight, 1s. wharfage, inspection fee, handling and railage to Perth, 
making a total of 9s., or 9d. each, without counting waste and im- 
porter’s profit, it is seen that good pinapples cannot be sold for less 
than 1s. each. At that price only the wealthy can afford to buy this 
fruit fresh. 
The varieties grown are either spineless leaves or spiny leaves. 
Of the spineless-leaved pineapple, the most commonly grown is— 
THE SMOOTH-LEAVED CAYENNE (syn. Giant Kew).—Leaves long 
and smooth, or with very few spines, broad, dark green; flowers 
purple; fruit very large, pyramidal, dark orange yellow; flesh pale 
yellow, rich, highly-flavoured; pips large, flat. Does not sucker so 
freely as other varieties. A very handsome fruit, weighing 6lbs. to 
10lbs. An autumn and winter growing variety. Largely grown in 
the Azores for the purpose of supplying the English market during 
the winter and early spring months. 
Of the spine-leaved kinds, some of the best are— 
Buack Jamaica (svn. Black Spanish).—Leaves long and nar- 
row, dark green, almost a blue purple in the centre. The leaves 
are hollow, not open and flattish. The leaves have little hooked 
prickles; not spines like the teeth of a saw, but set distinctly from 
each other. Flowers purple; fruit oval, somewhat pyramidal, dark 
green at first, and fit to eat before it shows any yellow or red; pips 
middle-sized, prominent; flesh firm, yellow, rich, juicy, and highly 
flavoured. Weight of fruit, from 4lbs. to 5lbs. Ripens in the winter. 
QurEN.—Leaves very short, broad, of a bluish green, very mealy; 
spines strong, set widely apart; flowers lilac; fruit evlindriecal, of a 
rich deep yellow; pips middle sized, prominent; flesh pale yellow, 
juicy, sweet, rich. Best in summer and autumn. 
RIPLEY QUEEN.—Of these there are two varieties—egreen and 
red. The Ripleys belong to the Queen varieties. Leaves green with 
purplish longitudinal streaks running up the centre. As the plant 
gets old and weak, the purple streaks become irregular, and the green 
of the leaf yellow. The spines are numerous. 
Lavy Beatrice LAmBTon.—A pyramidal pineapple, very juicy, 
grown with marked success in the Cairns district, North Queensland. 
In Cuba the pineapple is largely grown for export. The Red 
Spanish is nearly always planted as it is hardy and a good shipper. 
Other kinds cultivated are Abbaka, Black Antigna. Tong Green 
and Red Ceylon. 
