PROCEEDINGS. V 



extensive reform in the general system of applying bottom- 

 heat ; and does this experiment not prove the absurdity of 

 applying it in excess ? The roots of the old shoots, when 

 turned out of their pots after the fruit had been cut, were 

 in the most healthy condition, though they had little heat 

 beyond what Nature herself provided ; indeed, I may say 

 none whatever, save what the charred hay absorbed. It 

 has been remarked by some, and possibly imagined by many 

 others, that Pine-apples could not be ripened in the open 

 air in any other county but Devon. As a proof, however, 

 that we are not favoured with so much sun as some other 

 counties, I may mention that crops are generally earlier in 

 other parts tlian here. I could always gather peas from 

 six to ten days earlier in Surrey, Kent, Middlesex, and Es- 

 sex than I have been able to do here, and other vegetables 

 in proportion ; and, as to forcing early fruits, Devon pos- 

 sesses the worst climate with which I ever had to contend. 

 In this locality we have a continuance of dai'k, humid, cold, 

 hazy, cloudy, drizzling, rainy, and sea-foggy weather in 

 spring and early summer, with less sun at all seasons than 

 in other parts in wliich I have gardened. For weeks toge- 

 ther in some seasons we have fogs or mizzling rains at 

 almost every return of the tide ; and what I have accom- 

 plished in regai'd to Pine-culture in the open garden here, 

 I consider might be accomplished in any other part of the 

 kingdom, taking care to have well-drained pots, and the 

 soil porous and open. In regard to economy of ground, the 

 space taken up by the plants liaving been a cause of com- 

 plaint with some, I may remark, that by the sloping bank 

 and valley system which I practise I obtain a considerable 

 increase of surface. I am now cutting the second crop of 

 cabbages which have been grown on the outside of the 

 sloping banks between which the Pines have been culti- 

 vated. The cabbages were planted some time after the 

 Pines were put out. Indeed, I see no reason why we should 

 not cultivate the Pine-apple in this way on an extensive 

 scale, provided method and principle were brought to bear 

 on the subject. The suckers, some of which are sent for 

 inspection, have sprung up and made their entire growtli 

 in the open air, and I liave others fully three times their 

 size. Some we have potted are now in 12-inch pots, and 

 good plants, such as will no doubt produce good fruit next 

 season ; indeed, I never saw suckers grow more kindly and 

 rapidly in a pit or stove. 



" The following is a register of the out-door temperature, 

 taken three times a-day for 82 of the days during which the 



b 2 



