GARDENS AND ORANGE GROUNDS OF ST. MICHAEL'S. 247 



I thought of the old can-flues. I ordered some clay-pipes to be 

 iiiade, eight inches in diameter, and constructed the hot chamber 

 under the bed, more capacious than I would have done had I had 

 liot water. I did this for fear of the flue overheating, and to 

 prevent the roots from being burnt. The cans were laid down 

 on a slight foundation carefully fitted into each other, and covered 

 with a coating of mortar and red pumice stone. This I found 

 quite effectual, and ^ I would not hesitate to grow first rate Pine 

 Apples on the same plan in England. I dislike the method of 

 filling the space for tlie bottom with bricks, as is sometimes 

 practised : it confines the heat ; however little the obstruction, 

 it is too much in the vicinity of tlie pipes. 



In INIarch, 1850, I received from the late Mr. Wilmot a batch 

 of good succession Pines. The soil had all been shaken from 

 their roots, and they had been packed without moss or straw in 

 a packing case — a jilan I would always adopt when sending 

 Pines a long journey. They arrived in excellent condition, and 

 were planted in a compost of peat, burnt refuse, and well decayed 

 manure, all roughly mixed up together. My method of treat- 

 ment was much the same as that pursued at Chatsworth ; using, 

 perhaps, more manure water, and keeping my Pines gently grow- 

 ing during winter. From May to October, 1851, 1 cut seventy 

 Pines, averaging 5 pounds weight each ; four smooth Cayennes, 

 weighing respectively 12 lbs., 10 lbs., 9 lbs., and 8 lbs. ; six 

 Trinidads, averaging 8 lbs. each ; six Moscow Queens, one 7 lbs., 

 the others 6 lbs. each ; six Kipley Queens, 5 lbs. and 6 lbs. each ; 

 six Antigua Queens, 6 lbs. each ; and Jamaicas, Envilles, and 

 Montserrats, proportionately heavy. The large Cayenne Pine 

 was sent to Lisbon, to be presented to tlie Queen of Portugal. 

 Pines will exist in a half-starved state in the open ground here, 

 but they produce no fruit. 



Vegetables can be had at every season. Asparagus is much 

 superior to that at home ; the whole stalk is tender and sweet. 

 Seakale was rather difficult to force. Peas could be had from 

 Christmas till June ; French Beans every month in the year. 

 Walcheren Cauliffower was the only one that did well ; it is a 

 real prize, producing fine heads winter and summer. All kinds 

 of Cabbages succeeded well, and Salads of every description can 

 be grown. 



The foregoing remarks on the gardens of St. Michael's have 

 principally been confined to that of my employer. Jose do Canto 

 was the first to commence gardening on a large scale in the island. 

 The situation for his garden was badly chosen, being exposed on 

 every side to the sea : yet all the plants I have eimmerated, with 

 many others, ffourish well ; but many tender kinds would have done 

 better in a more sheltered situation. With Jose do Canto began the 



