152 
FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 
a marker that marks 4 or 5 rows at a 
time, 21x21 inches, which will take about 
12,000 plants to an acre leaving two rows 
out between beds of 15 rows, for an alley 
to facilitate picking during harvest time. 
The price of slips in July or August 
which mature during and after harvest is 
about $6.00 per thousand delivered to the 
station in sacks. 
The slips should be at least 8 inches in 
length with a good stocky butt. 
Trim the slips by cutting off one half 
inch from the hard butt and tear off three 
rows of the basil leaves. 
Drop a plant at the intersection of 
each row, and plant two rows at a time, 
using a garden trowel to lift up the sand 
while the slip is inserted about two inches 
and left upright. 
Drop in the heart of the plant about a 
heaping tablespoonful of fertilizer that 
will not burn, to prevent sand from en¬ 
tering the heart during a beating rain. 
After 4 to 6 weeks when the young 
plants have rooted, hoe with a scuffle hoe 
to break any crust that has formed and 
to kill weeds. Frequent hoeing is of 
benefit but be careful to use only a scuffle 
hoe as the pineapple plant is shallow root¬ 
ed. 
Fertilize before cool weather starts, in 
September or October and hoe it in well, 
with about 1,000 pounds to the acre. 
Fertilize again when the plants are 
about a year old with at least 1,000 lbs. 
to the acre and again with 2,000 pounds 
before cool weather. Figure on giving 
about two tons to the acre of a mixture 
analyzing 5 per cent ammonia, 6 per cent 
K2O and 2 per cent P. A. per acre a 
year, applying in two applications, or, as 
some growers advocate, smaller applica¬ 
tions frequently. 
In applying fertilizer it is a good plan 
to put on the heaviest application right 
after the crop is off, and later applications 
when rain is in sight. 
As a source of ammonia use blood and 
bone, tankage, dried blood, castor pom¬ 
ace, cotton seed meal or tobacco dust; 
avoid sulphate of Ammonia, Nitrate of 
Soda, or use with the greatest care. 
As a source of potash use sulphate of 
potash, preferably the low grade as it 
contains magnesia that is thought to help 
make the plants hardy and frost resistant. 
The high grade potash, however, gives 
splendid results. 
Avoid muriate of potash and kainit. 
Ftard wood ashes gives good results but 
must not be added to any mixture con¬ 
taining ammoniate as it sets free the am¬ 
monia to escape as gas. 
For phosphoric acid use steam bone 
or raw bone ground and avoid acid phos¬ 
phate, or bone black. 
In my experience I find that 2 per cent 
of P. A. is plenty and that I get in my 
castor pomace, blood and bone or tank¬ 
age. 
The standard pineapple fertilizers sold 
by the reliable fertilizer dealers may be 
relied upon as being well mixed and true 
to analysis and as cheap as one can mix 
them at home. 
Many growers use a mixture high in 
ammonia right after the crop is off to 
make plant growth and high in potash 
in the fall to balance up to make the plant 
hardy and fruit to carry well. 
Some years ago I reasoned that the 
plant would do better with a balanced 
