FERTILIZING PINE-APPLES. 
In the “Hawaiian Forester and Agriculturist” for May, 1911, 
is an important article on fertilizing pineapples. A large series of 
-experiments were made by Carlton C. James, and the results are 
given. The paper is too long to quote in full, but the deductions 
from the experiments are that superphosphate, reverted phosphate, 
and steamed bone meal, showed good results when applied. Super- 
phosphate better when applied together with lime nitrogen is not the 
dominant element in pineapple fertilizing. Of the three forms 
studied nitrate of soda was the least productive of good results. There 
was not much choice between sulphate of Ammonia and steamed 
hoof-meal as nitrogen carriers. Of the potash salts the sulphates of 
potash magnesia gave the best results- followed by sulphates of potash 
and chloride of potash respectively. Fertilized soil lends to bring the 
fruit to maturity from 2 to 4 weeks earlier than the unfertilized. 
It appears too, that the weight of the fruit is also increased by 
the action of fertilizers. 
The Hawaiian Canneries accept pineapples weighing more than 
three pounds at a general rate of 20 dollars a ton. The pines which 
do not reach this minimum are left on the field or disposed of for 
juice at half price. In the first-check plot 11.25 per cent of the pines 
weighed ever three pounds, while all in the fertilized plots were over 
the limit weight. 
In the Straits Settlements the pines are not fertilized, as they 
grow so readily and axe usually so cheap that it is unnecessary. A 
few years ago the output was so great that there were many thou- 
sands of pines more than the canners could use, and prices went 
■down so that the cultivation dropped and the result was a shortag j 
this year. — E d. \ 
THE QUALITY OF PLANTATION RUBBER . 
In recent numbers of The India Rubber Journal, Mr. L. Wray 
-contributes some interesting notes on the comparison of Fine Hard 
Para with Malayan plantation smoked and unsmoked Rubber, and 
the result of some tests furnished by the Continental Rubber Com- 
pany of New York which we reproduce. 
As will be seen Brazilian Fine Para possesses little, if any supe- 
riority over cultivated rubber cured in the same way at the Botanic 
Gardens, Singapore. 
Mr. Wray also pointed out that a sample of unsmoked plantation 
rubber gave better results than either of the smoked samples (the 
particular unsmoked sample came from Glenealy Estate, Perak) this 
however, should be qualified by Mr. Wray’s note in the India Rubber 
