( 5 ) 
tin plate, practically unobtainable during the war, 
were more available. The principal country for 
export is the United Kingdom, but Canada, British 
India and the United States of America absorb fairly 
large stocks. 
Cultivation The variety most commonly grown for 
of canning is a “ Queen ” type of pine, 
Pineapples which is very similar to the “ Red 
for Canning. Jamaican Pine” of the West Indies. 
The fruit is very small, weighing from 
3 to 5 lbs. and has an excellent flavour when tinned. 
The “ Mauritius ” and the “ Smooth Cayenne ” or 
“ Kew Pine ” are chiefly grown for dessert purposes. 
Although the pineapple will grow on most soils, 
provided they are well-drained, it usually thrives 
best on the stiff clay types of soil. A rich soil 
appears to be unsuitable as it tends to develope the 
size of the fruit at the expense of the flavour. Pines 
grown on some of the poorest Singapore soils have 
the best flavour when canned. 
Planting. The pines are propagated usually from 
the suckers which are obtained from 
the base of the fruit, the suckers being allowed to 
dry slightly in the sun before planting. They can 
be propagated also by means of the off-shoots or 
suckers from among the lower leaves of the plants. 
A common method of planting is in rows 5 feet 
apart, the plants being spaced 2*4 feet apart in the 
rows, with a 6 foot path at every 100 feet. About 
3,000 suckers are required to plant up an acre. 
After planting, the fields require careful weeding, 
but are not generally manured. Fortunately the 
pineapple has few insect enemies and is not subject 
to many diseases. 
p-4«/ 5 4 
