24 



VARIETIES. 



To classify the varieties of pineapples in 'the West Indies in such 

 a manner that the classification may be of practical value to the 

 planters seems an almost hopeless task. In Porto Kico alone the same 

 variety shows distinct characteristics in the different parts of the 

 island, and the varieties imported from other West Indian islands 

 under given names are wholly different from those already growing 

 in Porto Rico under those names. Furthermore, new types are con- 

 stantly originating from seeds. Types are formed by degenerated 

 varieties escaped from cultivation and some are found in the Manati 

 section in Porto Rico of which it is difficult to judge if they have 

 ever been under cultivation. The varieties known and commonly 

 planted in Porto Rico until a few years ago were Cabezona, Pan de 

 Azucar, and Xegrita. In the last few years the variety known as 

 Red Spanish has been j:>lanted extensively, and several varieties have 

 been imported from the various West Indian islands by the experi- 

 ment station and in a few cases by individual planters. 



CABEZONA. 



In Florida the Cabezona is classified as the Porto Rico, which 

 would indicate that it came to Florida from Porto Rico. It is not 

 known whether it originated in Porto Rico, but, according to hear- 

 say, it has been grown at Palmare jo, a village about 2 miles west of 

 Lajas, since the earlier part of the nineteenth century. In 1903 the 

 entire planting at that place amounted to about 135 acres, and the 

 amount of fruit shipped from there was approximately 140,000 pines. 

 At that time there were about 100 acres planted to the Cabezona in 

 the Bayamon section also, but it was noticed that the plants were 

 smaller, the leaves narrower, the color lighter, and the fruit distinct 

 in flavor from the Palmare jo fruit. 



The Cabezona is one of the largest varieties grown. The plant is 

 large, with broad, dark green, spiny leaves. The fruits vary in 

 shape from oblong, tapering, often irregularly bulging, to almost 

 cylindrical with regular sides. The Palmarejo fruit averages 8 to 10 

 pounds. Twelve to 15 pounds is very common and as high as 25 

 pounds has been reported, although the writers have seen none that 

 weighed over 18 pounds. The color of the fruit is a dark green, 

 turning to bright yellow when ripe. The crown is large and regular 

 and crown slips are not often found. The fruit stalk is large and 

 extends up into the fruit, so that when broken off it leaves a cavity. 



RED SPANISH. 



Just as in the Cabezona, there is considerable variation in the Red 

 Spanish in the different parts of the island. It is not definitely known 



