17 



HOW THE PINEAPPLE PLANT GROWS. 



If the soil in which the pineapple plant has been set is moist, root 

 development will take place at once and the roots will be able to take 

 up the food elements as soon as needed. These elements in solution 

 are carried through the roots up to the stem and to the leaves. In 

 the leaf cells, by action of the sun and the green coloring matter 

 which we call " chlorophyl," these food elements from the soil and 

 carbon dioxid from the air are combined with water into food for the 

 plant in ways not yet fully understood. This food consists of many 

 complex chemical compounds, the best known of which are the sugars 

 and starches. From the leaves the food is carried in solution to all 

 parts of the plant wherever needed. Both sunshine and chlorophyl 

 are necessary to the formation of the principal food, so that a leaf 

 losing its color loses its pow T er to form food. It is thus seen how im- 

 portant a large, healthy leaf is to the formation of a good fruit. 



Food not needed immediately is stored up in the plant tissues, 

 usually in the form of starch, and it is this reserve supply that car- 

 ries the plant over periods of hardship and vitally enters into the 

 formation of extra-grade fruits. It is probably due to this that, as 

 a rule, the pineapple plants that have a longer period for development 

 will give larger fruit. They have, as it Avere, more accumulated re- 

 serve energy to use in the severe strain of fruit producing. 



The root system of the pineapple is shallow and usually does not 

 extend much over 6 inches in each direction. Among the larger va- 

 rieties it is not uncommon to find a few roots extending 10 to 12 

 inches from the stem, but the main portions are matted closely to- 

 gether within a distance of from 4 to 6 inches. (See PI. VI, fig. 1.) 



The development of the root system is of great importance in con- 

 sidering planting, cultivating, and fertilizing. It will be readily un- 

 derstood that the plants can be set as close as 12 inches apart without 

 the roots interfering. It will also be seen that cultivation must neces- 

 sarily be shallow, especially close to the plants, and in fertilizing it 

 would be a waste to spread the fertilizer in the middles, where the 

 row- are 3 feet or more apart. 



Where small slips are set in sandy soil it is not unusual to find them 

 filled with sand, especially after a heavy rain or wind. This is detri- 

 mental to the plant, and the sand should be Avashed out by pouring 

 water directly into the heart from a sprinkling can with the rose 

 removed. It may also be prevented by dropping a pinch of cotton- 

 seed meal, dried blood, or tobacco dust, or a mixture of any of these 

 materials, into the heart immediately after planting. This, by filling 

 the cavity, will prevent the sand from entering, yet, unlike the sand, 

 it will not choke the plant. 



