PINEAPPLE 



1683 



In developing, the flower head loses its 

 bright red color, and the terminal bracts 

 form the rosette on top of the fruit that 

 is called the crown. Later buds may ap- 

 pear on the stem below the fruit, which 

 develop into slips. 



Propagation 



A plant bears but one fruit, and the 

 next crop must be produced by a new 

 set of plants. There are several different 

 parts from which the pineapple may be 

 propagated, all of which are quite similar. 

 All are miniature plants, and are known 

 under different names according to their 

 position on the mother plant. 



Battoons and Suckers 



At the time the fruit is forming buds 

 appear on the stem among the roots as 

 well as in the leaf axils. These buds de- 

 velop into individual plants, and those 

 which are formed below the soil are 

 called "rattoons," while those in the leaf 

 axils are called "suckers." Either of the 

 two forms soon develops roots, and as the 

 roots of the rattoon develop directly in 

 the soil, it will soon be independent of 

 the mother plant and can be left to con- 

 tinue the field. The sucker, if left on the 

 mother plant, also throws out roots, but, 

 as it is not in contact with the soil, the 

 roots develop partly around the base of 

 the new plant under the lower leaves and 

 partly in the leaf axils of the mother 

 plant. In that position the sucker will 

 grow and bear fruit exactly as if its roots 

 were taking nourishment from the soil 

 The nourishment may in this case be 

 taken up by the roots from the leaf axils 

 where they are developing or through 

 the stem by which the sucker is attached 

 to the mother plant. It has been proved 

 that the sucker grows as well after sever- 

 ing the connection with the mother plant 

 as before, showing that the roots are 

 actually taking up nourishment, although 

 not in connection with the soil. The prac- 

 tical importance of this is that where the 

 plants are close enough together to pre- 

 vent the suckers from being blown over 

 they can be depended on to bear a crop of 

 fruit. Both the rattoons and the suckers 

 can be severed from the mother plant at 

 any time and used for planting. 



Slips 



The plantlets appearing on the fruit 

 stalk below the fruit are called "slips." 

 They are similar to the rattoons and 

 suckers, but they seldom attain the size 

 of those while attached to the mother 

 plant, and they can not reach maturity 

 and bear fruit without being planted, as 

 they have no chance for root development. 



Crown and Crown Slips 



The rosette of leaves on the apex of the 

 fruit is called the "crown.'* This is simi- 

 lar to the slip, and when cut off from the 

 fruit and planted it will grow and produce 

 another fruit. 



Frequently, and especially in some of 

 the varieties, a number of slips will be 

 found beneath and around the crown; 

 these are called "crown slips." They are 

 usually small because they do not have 

 time to develop; they can be used for 

 propagation, however, if other slips can 

 not be obtained. 



Seedlings 



Practically all varieties of pineapples 

 produce seeds. The quantity produced 

 varies in the different varieties and ap- 

 parently depends on the locality as well 

 as the season. 



In propagating from seeds, plant in 

 boxes under cover, use light soil, and 

 cover the seeds lightly. The seedlings are 

 subject to damping off, and it may often 

 be necessaiT to sterilize the soil before 

 planting. After the plants attain the size 

 of small slips they can be set out in nurs- 

 eries and later transplanted into the field. 

 Seedlings will bear in from two and a half 

 to three years, while slips bear in about 

 one year and a half, showing that it is 

 not practicable to propagate from seed, but 

 it is of great importance in developing 

 new varieties. The seeds do not repro- 

 duce the variety true to name, and in 

 propagating from seeds the result is a 

 number of different types, some of which 

 may be equal to the parent, some inferior, 

 and some superior. 



In growing pines, the first consideration 

 is that the plants must be free from dis- 

 ease, strong, vigorous and mature 



