PINE-APPLES. 



129 



requirements after being properly prepared at the outset. The 

 question of frost protection is a most important one to the 

 Florida grower, for the plant is essentially tropical, and the 

 least frost injures it more or less ; a light frost only kills the 

 leaves, and if the plant is not near fruiting, this injury will only, 

 diminish its size, and retard the fruiting season. 



But let the plant be large and well on towards the fruiting 

 time, and then if the leaves are killed the fruit will be small, 

 and unmarketable, while if water should be standing in the little 

 cup formed by the centre leaves, when a sharp frost sufficient to 

 freeze the water chances this way, w^oe to the plant itself; its 

 tender life currents will be so chilled and shocked as never more 

 to grow onwards, and the plant will droop and die, to be re- 

 placed by feeble suckers. 



But there is no need that such mishaps should occur with a 

 careful planter ; a slight ^protection will insure the safety of the 

 pine-apple. 



While the plants are small, a couple of sticks — split shin- 

 gles are convenient for making them — stuck by them, so that 

 their tops meet above the plant, with a handful of the long gray 

 moss so abundant in the hammocks — which, by-th@-way, is no 

 moss at all, but belongs to the pine-apple family, and is an air 

 plant — dropped over them, is all-sufficient. 



When they become too large for this, two, ten, or twelve- 

 inch boards, nailed together at a right angle, and then placed 

 over the plants like an inverted trough, afford an excellent shel- 

 ter. If the boards are not over ten feet long, one man can easily 

 lift them into position on the approach of a threatening night,, 

 for it is at night that the Florida frosts nearly ahvays occur. 



Another method of protection is to drive down low stakes 

 among the pine-apples, to lay small scantling or rails from stake- 

 to stake, and on these pile brush, cornstalks, anything that will 

 serve as a shelter ; cloths or bagging are also often stretched over 

 the protecting frame-work, and these, though a little expensive 

 at the outset, are really economical in the end, since the one ex- 

 pense serves for season after season, while brush must be collected 

 and removed each year. 



