SEED-VESSELS WE EAT 227 



southern Florida, charging him with sending 

 second-rate fruit. The consignment contained 

 many imperfect specimens. He threatened dire 

 consequences if any more "wiudfall pineapples 5 ' 

 came his way! The south half of Florida still 

 laughs, though the joke is old. 



The largest pineapple orchard in the United 

 States is near Fort Myers on the West Coast. 

 This tropical fruit is sensitive to cold and dry air. 

 It grows only in the lower part of Florida. Even 

 southern California has given up the attempt to 

 raise it. 



A field of pineapples ready to harvest does not 

 look like an orchard. The plants grow in rows and 

 hills, like corn, and each bears its one fruit on the 

 stout central stalk, about a foot above the ground. 

 Around it arch the long, thickened, sword-like 

 leaves, very prickly on the edges, and at the tip. 

 It would be a hurricane, indeed, that produced 

 any windfalls of this crop. 



The negroes that gather the " pines" wrap their 

 legs up to the knees with the thickest cloth they 

 can find. Strips of carpet are best. Then they 

 put on mittens or gloves made of thick 'canvas, 

 and go into the field with short, hooked knives 3 

 and gunny sacks slung across the shoulder, and 

 hanging open under one arm. Grasping the spiny 



