/•/-/,//,■ and Vegetables. 



31 



"To secure the co-operation of the United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, and, if possible, government aid to the 

 enterprise." 



Pineapples. The crop of pineapples for 1892 was a gratifying p ineap p,es 

 one to those who have predicted that the fruit can be grown toFlond*, 

 profitably in Florida. "The pineapple industry is rapidly 

 developing in Florida," says the Fruit Trade Journal* "A 

 few years ago it was comparatively unknown. This year the 



pineapple section, is double that of last year, and some 



ative estimates, according to a gentleman in Savannah, from 

 Titusville recently, put the crop at 25,000 to 30,000 crates, 

 while some estimates go as high as 35,000. The shipping 

 season began about two weeks ago, and will last about two 

 weeks longer. This season is a short one, lasting only a month. 

 The principal producing section is about 100 miles below 



is a very fine one. The chief markets to which the fruit is 

 shipped are the northern markets, although Chicago, Cincin- 

 nati and the western cities are becoming large consumers. 



"The pineapple industry is even yet comparatively little 

 known. Captain Richards, of Eden, is the pioneer of the 

 industry in the Indian river section, and he is by far the 

 largest grower. His plantation is an extensive one, and he 

 has realized large profit from the fruit. Titusville is the point 

 through which the fruit is shipped, and the Indian river 

 steamers do a large business at this season handling the crop. 

 A few other sections of Florida grow the fruit, but none so 

 extensively as the Indian river section. A few pineapples are 

 grown in the vicinity of Orlando, but they are grown under 

 sheds, while on the Indian river both the soil and climate are 

 favorable to the crop, and it grows luxuriantly in the open air. 

 The industry promises to become one of the most important 

 in Florida, and a year or two from now the crop will have 

 been quadrupled. The fruit is easily grown. A slip planted 

 one year becomes a bearing plant the second year. The fruit 

 from the Orlando section is shipped to England. It is a par- 

 ticularly fine variety, and finds a ready market abroad. A con- 

 siderable crop is also grown in the extreme sonthern part of 



