8 



some of the others. It is quite possible that the same result could 

 be obtained in the West Indies by rigid selection. Some plants of 

 the Spanish variety brought from Florida showed a number of per- 

 fectly smooth plants in the first generation, but, as far as observed, 

 they developed spines in the following generation. To show what 

 an inherent characteristic the spines are, a number of leaves were 

 split longitudinally and spines developed on the cut margins. 



The color of the leaf varies from red to red striped, and red and 

 white striped to dark green, the last being the predominating color. 

 The dark-green color is a sign of health in most of the varieties, 

 and whenever the leaves, which are normally green, turn reddish it 

 is a sign of some derangement. 



FLOWER AND FRUIT. 



The pineapple is a multiple fruit ; that is, the fruit which we know 

 as a pineapple is really an aggregate of many individual fruits, the 

 number of which determines the size of the pineapple. At a certain 

 period in the life of the plant the heart — that is, the last-formed 

 leaves — will assume a bright red color, and instead of more leaves 

 forming, the flower head will appear on a stalk which is a direct elon- 

 gation of the plant stem. The flower heads are rather conspicuous, 

 being covered with the bright-red flower bracts. The flowers, which 

 are inconspicuous, are of a violet or purple color. 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 appear 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 ac- 

 cording to their position on the mother plant. (See PL II.) 



RATTOOXS 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 develop into in- 

 dividual 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 continue the field. The sucker, if left on the 

 mother plant, also throws out roots, but, as it is not in contact with 



