140 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



for, if hurried into premature fruiting, the result is sure to be some- 

 thing ridiculous. We may reckon on every plant requiring two 

 years from its start as a sucker until we cut the ripe fruit from it. 

 As a matter of fact, many pines give fine fruit in less than this 

 period, and some do not fruit at all unless compelled, about which I 

 shall speak presently. In common with other plants, these need 

 periods of rest to mature their growth before fruiting, and the culti- 

 vator can in a great measure determine when the fruit shall appear, 

 by regulating the time and the conditions of the resting season. 

 Thus, if we want a batch of plants to start early in spring, we keep 

 them rather dry in winter; but those required to start late should 

 be kept growing all winter and spring, with more heat and moisture 

 than resting plants require. Those that miss fruiting at the proper 

 time should be summarily dealt with. If you have plenty of plants, 

 and not over-much glass, throw those that miss away. If you have 

 room, however, to do it, you may compel all these to fruit by cutting 

 them close over at the surface of the soil, and potting them deeply 

 and putting them in a brisk heat. They soon start, and generally 

 make fine fruit. We have yet to discover why a certain number of 

 almost every batch should miss ; the fault must be in the cultiva- 

 tor, there can be no doubt at all. 



Fruit showing in October and November take nearly sixteen 

 weeks to come to maturity ; those showing in December and January 

 take about fourteen ; and those showing in February and March 

 take about twelve. Moderate heat — say from 58° to 65° — should be 

 maintained for the succession plants and suckers during the winter 

 months, increasing it and humidity as the light and days increase. 



In the fruiting-house the temperature should range from G5° to 

 70° during the short days of winter. As the year advances, the 

 sun-heat will of course raise it very much higher, and so much the 

 better. The addition of 10 5 or 15° from sun-heat will prove bene- 

 ficial at all times, if the roots, air, and humidity are as they should 

 be. When colouring and ripening, air should be very liberally given 

 and humidity withheld, in order that the fruit may be of fine colour, 

 and what is of far greater importance in a pine — of fine flavour. 



TJie Queen is the most useful variety we have for summer and 

 autumn, but is the worst for winter fruit. To have fruit in June, 

 a sufficient number of plants should be set going in January, and in 

 the course of three or four weeks another batch should follow. 

 If they have been dry and cool since the previous October, the 

 stimulus of increased heat and moisture will do all that is required. 

 The Queen is a dwarf grower, quick in fruiting, handsome, 

 though not very large, and of the finest flavour. It makes suckers 

 freely, therefore there is never any difficulty about obtaining a stock 

 of plants. 



BlacTc Jamaica is the finest of all for winter. As to flavour, 

 nothing can surpass it. In growth it is tall and erect, tolerably sure 

 to fruit, medium size, with large pips, rather wanting in colour. It 

 has but one bad quality, and that is, a hard flesh ; but, as tastes 

 differ, this is to some connoisseurs a recommendation. Be careful, 

 in growing this for winter fruit, not to allow the succession plants 



