Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 January 1918 — Pineapples Catch Crop [ARTICLE]

Pineapples Catch Crop

Although pineapples are grown rather extensively in the Straits Settlements, the canning of this fruit being one of the most flourishing of the minor Industries, there appears to be little definite information available as to the acreage and actual production In the different localities, according to Consul Harry Campbell, detailed as vice consul at Singapore, Straits Settlements. Pineapples are for the most part raised as a catch crop In connection with rubber plantations, since' they can be grown very easily and with little cost between the rubber trees during the first two or three years of their growth. This procedure has been especially attractive to planters (mostly Chinese) having small holdings on the island of Singapore, as it affords the planter an Income during the years that the rubber trees are coming into bearirig, while proximity to the canning factories of Singapore makes the marketing simple and inexpensive. It la estimated that about 2,000 acres of pineapples were planted on rubber estates on the Island of Singapore In 1916. Any definite figures as to acreage in other parts of the peninsula are not available, but it appears that the Industry in the Federated Malay states is not important, being limited almost Entirely to small plots for local market purposes. The value of the exports of pineapples from the Straits Settlements during 1916 was $2,506,910.