92 

 Pineapple Sheds 



The desire to protect this plant from the winter's oold 

 seems to have 'been the origin of the present pineapple sheds 

 in the United States, though the protecting of pineapples "by 

 sheds has now extended to the region where there is little 

 danger of freezing. The value of the half -shade condition in 

 improving the quality of the fruit is now generally recognized. 

 The sheds not only prevent extremes in temperature but also an 

 excessive evaporation. The cost of shed prohihits its profit- 

 able use for the lower grades of pineapples. 



Trees for Shade. Hardwood trees that have a deep taproot 

 frequently grow in the midst of a pineapple plot without any 

 apparent had effect and with considerahle protecting influ- 

 ence. It is not probahle that such conditions would continue 

 indefinitely, since the fertilizer applied to the pineapple 

 plants would sooner or later draw soiae of the feeding roots of 

 the tree to the surface and thus divert the fertilizer applied 

 for the use of the pineapple plants. Besides the fertilizer 

 taken from the soil, the trees ahsorl) more or less moisture, 

 which would he of some detriment to the crop during a dry 

 season at least. The first difficulty may "be removed hy 

 digging a trench "betv/een the native growth and the pineapple 

 plants. This cuts off the feeding roots of the trees and 

 keeps them from taking the plant food and the moisture from 

 the field crop. The second dif f iciiltj'- may he removed by 

 watering and irrigation. 



Bulletin No, 25, Division of Botany, United States 



