CHAPTER XVIL 



PINE-APPLES. 



Next in importance to the culture of oranges and lemons in 

 Florida, and destined to rival even these fruits in the future, 

 comes the pine-apple, most fragrant of all fruits, and second to 

 none in delicious flavor. ^ 



This industry, like those just mentioned, is still in its in- 

 fancy here, and, consequently, there are many conflicting opinions 

 as to the best soils and modes of culture. 



From a mass of opinions on this subject we have endeavored 

 to sift out facts, and to recommend a mode of culture which may 

 be relied on as safe to follow, and reasonably certain to lead to 

 success. 



One WTiter on pine-apple culture tells us that " the best soil 

 for them is new, rich/ land, closely underlaid with clay ; " another 

 says, " the soil should be very rich, and is better to be all clay ; " 

 while others recommend rich hammock land. 



Now, all this may be true in certain places and latitudes, but 

 it is not true in Florida. 



Pine land gives the best result in every instance upon record, 

 and it needs but little fertilizing either. 



It is a mistake to suppose the pine-apple needs a very rich 

 soil to do its best ; it is a plant that wants only moderate food, 

 and is easily surfeited, and its growth actually retarded by too 

 much fertilizing ; and in tl^is fact lies the secret of the failure of 

 nearly all who have not succeeded in raising this delicious fruit 

 successfully. 



Rarely, indeed, is the man who set out his pine-apple plan- 

 tation on rich hammock land found extending it — at least not 

 on the same soil— while, whenever a patch has been started on 

 pine land, and moderately cared for, you will find the owner 



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