37 



PINEAPPLE GROWING AS A BUSINESS PROPOSITION. 



Over and over again the question is asked, " Does pineapple grow- 

 ing pay? " Many companies have been organized in Porto Rico 

 and prospectuses published giving, in many cases, grossly exaggerated 

 results based upon some exceptional yield. This being the case, it 

 is well to give some data showing what returns the average planter 

 may expect. 



By referring to preceding paragraphs and data gathered from a 

 large number of representative growers, one can reach a close ap- 

 proximation of what ordinarily may be expected. Of course, each 

 item will vary much under different conditions, but the chances are 

 that the totals will not vary so much. Then, too, we are only seek- 

 ing for the returns that may reasonably be expected, not the bumper 

 returns nor the failures. 



Good pineapple land well located now costs from $75 to $200 per 

 acre. To plant this land will take an average of 10,000 slips which 

 at the prevailing prices will cost $150. To prepare the land as it 

 should be prepared means three to six plowings and cultivations. 

 The cost of these will vary somewhat, but will average from $15 to 

 $25, depending on the nature of the soil and wages paid in that par- 

 ticular locality. Bedding, preparing the plants, and planting will 

 cost another $15 to $20. Some, in especially favored sections, get 

 this done for $10, but this is exceptional. After planting, the culti- 

 vations will cost on an average $3 to $5 each, and the number for 

 the crop should be at least 6, better 10 or 12, making $20 to $60 for 

 all. Ticking and packing will cost from $10 to $20, besides boxes. 

 Adding these we get the cost of the first crop to be from $210 to 

 $275 per acre, not counting cost of land. To this should be added 

 >:;;) to $50 for fertilizer in the poorer and sandy soils. This will 

 make the cost of preparing the ground, planting, and growing the 

 crop from $250 to $300 per acre. 



For the credit side of the account there are the fruit and the slips. 

 In a good stand the average percentage of fruit obtained is about 

 90. This would give 9,000 fruits. Of these at least 85 per cent, or 

 637 dozen, should bring an average of 50 cents per dozen if sold at 

 the cannery or more if sold at good average market prices. At the 

 cannery they will bring $318.50 plus $25 for the poorer fruit, thus 

 giving an income of $343.50 from fruit. The income from slips and 

 suckers is almost too variable to approximate. The average from 

 reports from a large number of growers shows four slips, two suck- 

 er-, and one-half rattoon to each plant. The slips are usually sal- 

 able at $10 to $15 per thousand, but this is not to be counted upon. 

 It is probable that in a year or two more only first-class slips can be 

 sold at all and these at only $5 to $8 per thousand, but even at these 



