720 THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [May 1, 1902. 
PiNEAPPi-ES ON THE Keys. 
From the port of Miami 25° 70' I proceeded in a 
schooner to Elliot Key, and Key Largo, the lj,lter 
about 25° 20' to examine the methods of cultivation 
adopted there. Hundreds of Acres are under cul- 
tivation on these islands since about 1860 when they 
were introduced. On the keys an absolutely different 
system of cultivation ia carried on. The plants are 
grown among the coralline rocks, between the crevices, 
the crow bar being used to open the crevices for the 
plants. The vegetation on the rocks consists of small 
scrubby trees. This is cut down and burnt, An inch 
or two of decayed vegetable matter covers most of the 
rooks. About a year after clearing this soil is com- 
pletely washed into the crevices so that on some 
plantations earth is invisible, the entire surface be- 
ing rock difficult to walk over. In olher places there 
are small collections of humus interspersed among the 
rocks. The suckers are actually planted to the extent 
of 1 500 dozens to the acre ("18,000.) The cultivati n 
of each pinery is kept up about 5 years' Fertilizers 
are not used. The cultivators have the great advan- 
tage of having their fruit a few weeks earlier in the 
market than those cultivated on the mainland and 
consequently realise a higher price. There can be 
little doubt that the earlier crop, arises from the liigh 
temperature emanated by the rock. 
Hybrid Pineapples. 
Daring my interview with Professor Webber, the 
eminent (Jhief of Hybvidizition at AVashington, on 
my way to Florida, I had the gratification of seeing 
the first hybrid Pineapple fruit. The first product 
of a new type of Pineapple ; the result of many years 
of devoted skill ; a new departure in the history of this 
fruit. This precious specimen created intense interest. 
On my return to Washington from Florida, I was 
informed by the Chief of the Bureau of Plant Industry, 
by this time other hybrid fruits each distinctly 
different had been received from the Experiment 
Station in Florida ; that the flavour of several of the 
types was extremely satisfactory. 
At Miami I visited the Government Experiment Sta- 
tion where these fruits were grown, and saw the plant 
that nave the first fruit ; there are about 300 hybrid 
plants altogether. Over a dozen had ripened fruit 
by" the middle of July, and man/ more were coming 
to maturity. Bach plant so far yields distinctly 
difierent forms, so that they will be numerous. Some 
of course will be superior to others Those that have 
fruited are producing suckers for multiplication. It is 
also interesting to record the fact that many of these 
plants are smooth leaved, spineless, an important con- 
sideration from the grower's point of view, for it en- 
ables him to tiaverse his fields with great facility as 
compared with struggling through the spiny masses of 
leaves. It is further inoresting to relate that the 
acquisition of smooth foliage was preconceived in the 
hybridizing operations, in view of its advantageous re- 
sults. It was a source of pleasure to me to behold 
these precious achievements. In the near future we 
shall ob:,ain specimens; for it may not be amiss to say, 
the Chief of the Bureau offered me most generously 
fevervlhing that can be spared by the Department. 
There can be no doubt that these important acquisi- 
tions are destined to advance the pineapple Industry 
and extend its popularity everywhere. 
I am glad to say I have received seeds from another 
source of rare varieties which I have sown and hope to 
grow for further experimental purposes. At the sta- 
tion mentioned there are also many new types of 
hybridized Oranges the merits of which areas yet un- 
known, not having borne fruit- Guavas are also hy- 
bridised here and many other tropical plants are ex- 
perimented upon. 
Pineapples in Jamaica. 
The number of fri-its exported from Jamaica average 
only about 05,000 a year. This is what Floiida grows 
on io acres, Quito recently the cultivation has received 
■ increased attention and judging from the area planted 
at leust <100,000 should be exported very soon. Even this 
number however is oloBcly approximated by individual 
growers in yioricla, It will .remain an insignificant 
industry until we export millions annaally. 
Much of the cultivation is far from satisfactory. 
Small patches have been successfully cultivated but 
I suspect there is hardly any cultivator of an acre or 
two who has not been greatly disappointed. Probably 
we have had about 100 acres in culcivation for years, 
yet the export figures only show what is capable of 
being cultivated "n 10 acres. The condition of the soil 
in Jamaica is the perplexing element. This is the 
secret of Florida's success. Intermediate between that 
barren sand and the ordinary so l of Jamaica, we 
have to strike the best possible medium. In other 
words to ensure success foi thid culture, the soil selected 
must be peculiarly sandy, gravelly or rocky even to 
the extent of impoverishment in the natural supply of 
plant food, which deficiency can be advantageously 
added according to the requirements of the soil. 
As stated, in Florida soil is the all important factor 
and in irdcr to makn this cultivation successful in Ja- 
maica on a large scale, soil is ihe important con- 
sideration. 
There can be no doubt that the kinds be-t adapted to 
cultivation in Jamaica are the acclimatized varieties. 
The Smooth Cayenne, which by the way I introduced to 
Jamaica 30 years ago, is less successfully grown than 
the others. It seems to grow too luxuriantly, all into 
rank foliage. More sterile csnditions of soil thould 
remedy this, 
Messrs. Elder Dempster & Co, have with a view to 
improve and establish this cultivation on a commercial 
scale decided to cultivate several acres on the Liguanea 
Plain under ray supervision. My long experience in 
tropical agriculture, coupled with the advantages ac- 
cruing from a careful stu ly of this culture in Florida, 
where during my sojourn on the great pineapple fields 
I acquired much information, will enable me to tarn to 
practical account improved methods of cultivation, the 
application to our most suitable land of the accumu- 
lated knowledge of Florida. 1 therefore hope to be 
able to instruct intending cultivators as to the most 
approved soils and methods applicable to Jamaica. 
Pineapples are exposed in Jamaica to the burning 
sun throughout the year far more than is the case in 
Florida. I feed convinced that the inauguration of 
the shed sytem merits attention for the purpose of ward 
ing off the full blaze of the sun and for securing con- 
genial atmospheric coudition.o. I theref :>re|beg to sng 
gest that I may be empowered to make an experi- 
mental trial of a one acre shed, 2 or 8 of the best varie- 
ties to be cultivated. On the dry Liguanea Plain, in 
places where the soil is extremely sandy. I am of 
opinion that these sheds will prove in valuable. To 
cover an acre with laths costs about $300 par acre in 
Florida. There timber is cheap. We have bamboo 
which doubtless will answer the purpose perfectly, 
r.nd it is cheap. Of this material I purpose 
making my experimental shed. Possib.y cree- 
pers trained on wires might be substituted for laths 
eventually. The remarkable improvement appertain- 
ing to the pineapples under sheds ia Florida can 
probably be attained by cultivation under sheds here. 
Thus the flipley, judging from Ploridian experiences, 
will be considerably augmented in size and improved 
in quality ( a little difference in the size of the fruit 
doubles its value) and the fruiting season is in some 
measure regulated by shed culture. In Florida, as 
already stated, no expense ia spared to ensure these 
conditions. Such a valuable crop is worthy of any im- 
provement of soil, <feo. 
With regard to this cultivation oa the rocks of the 
keys, similar rocky land abounds in Jamaica, — exten- 
sive areas under rank bush and considered nncultiv- 
able, These wastes with sufficient rain can be converted 
into pineapple fields. Little capital is requisite beyond 
what is necessary for the purchase of suckers. One 
man can cultivate several acres. Were these hills in 
Florida hundteds of acres would be planted yearly. 
Besides we are piaotically exempt from the plague of 
mosquitoes that torment the lives of growers on the 
keys. Sheds are not nsed on the keys, 
^he rainfall is abont 60 inches. In Jamaiofti 
