28 



field is in such a condition that good work in cleaning can not be done 

 without it, then it may be best to cut off the old leaA^es. It must be re- 

 membered, though, that the leaves are the part that change the ele- 

 ments of the soil and air into food for the plant and any injury to 

 them decreases the amount of food that can be formed in a piven 



o 



time. 



As the root system is very shallow, if there has been much wash- 

 ing or working away of the soil, the earth should be thrown into the 

 bed around the plant to the depth of 3 to -1 inches. This not only 

 covers the roots, but also helps support the old plant. Care should 

 be used to see that the middle of the bed is kept higher than the 

 sides to assist drainage. 



As fast as they mature the slip>s and suckers should be removed. 

 If all are not desired for planting, then it is well to remove the 

 smaller, weaker ones as soon as possible, thus throwing all the 

 strength of the plants into the ones needed. The number of rattoons 

 and suckers left to bear the next crop depends on the bedding and 

 richness of the soil. Usually two are left to each plant. If the 

 ground is very rich and one expects to fertilize well, three and even 

 in extreme cases four of the best rattoons and suckers may be left! 

 In the single-row system only the rattoons or possibly the very lowest 

 suckers can be left, as any others would probably fall over and either 

 break off or allow the fruit to be sun scalded. In a several-row sys- 

 tem the retention of only the lower suckers and rattoons is not so 

 necessary, and the closer the plants the more this is true, but in all 

 cases suckers from near the top should be avoided if possible. 

 Usually, if the upper suckers are pulled off, others will be formed 

 lower on the plant, and even the development of rattoons can often 

 be caused by removing the suckers first formed. 



The length of time a field may be kept continuously in pineapples 

 depends most upon its fertility, but the nature of the soil, the weeds 

 and grass, the system of bedding, and the tendency of the mother 

 plants to propagate by rattoons or low suckers also are governing 

 factors. Where the ground is strong, heavy, and weedy, it is prob- 

 able that three to four years is as long as the field can be eco- 

 nomically continued. In such cases a rotation of three crops of fruit, 

 then a deep plowing and two or three cultivations, then about two 

 good crops of cowpeas, at least one of which is turned under, then 

 another deep plowing and thorough cultivation, followed by re- 

 planting with pines, will prove very satisfactory. The cultivation 

 and two crops of cowpeas should not take more than eight or nine 

 months and would more than pay for the loss of time. When the 

 other factors can be controlled, a field may be continued from eight 

 to fifteen years, or as long as the fertility is such as to keep the fruit 



