87 

 first crop has "been gathered most of the old foliage dies and 

 makes a covering for the soil. 



During the growing season the leaves of the pineapple 

 plant* are very easily troken. The peculiar and complicated 

 structure of the pineapple leaf makes it very resistant to 

 drought, lant if the epidermis is "broken it soon loses moist\;ire 

 to an excessive extent, and damage to the plant results, 

 V/hatever implements are used or whatever operations are per- 

 formed in the field, special care must Tje exercised to avoid 

 breaking leaves. 



Marketing 



Gathering, The fr\iit should "be drj'- when gathered. The 

 first act in gathering is to select the friiits thought to he 

 ripe enough to reach the market in the "best condition. In 

 the summer, if the I'rnit is to go forward as freight it is 

 selected when it is "just turning." If it is to go by water 

 it is selected a little less matui-e, and if by express the 

 fruit may be permitted to become "quite well colored," The 

 matter of selecting depends so much on judgment that no hard 

 and fast rule can be laid down. The distance fr'om the xriarket, 

 the condition of the weather, and the variety planted are all 

 factors which must be considered. 



Care in Handling. In the United States, the laborer who 

 goes among the fruit is usiially provided with a pair of legging 

 that reach above the knees and a pair of mittens made of canvas 

 He seizes the pineapple, usually in both hands, and gives it 



