In Country Life I have just read that, in the 18th century, pineapples were
very highly prized as a high status fruit to offer one's guests. This is
one of the reasons they're the symbol of welcome as shown in stone
pineapples on so many gateposts. However, back then one fruit could cost
the equivalent of £5000 in today's money!

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove weeds from address)
'We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our
children.'