346 NEW AMERICAN ORCHARDIST. 



seed of the common citron or lemon, and next to these, 

 from the Seville orange. The cuttings are prepared by 

 stripping the lower leaves, and cutting at the bottom close 

 to an eye; these are to be placed in a pot, touching the 

 bottom, or a piece of potsherd, and put in a warm situa- 

 tion, carefully shaded and covered with a hand glass till 

 rooted. 



All the varieties require a strong soil, and a warm and 

 protected situation in unfavorable climates. 



PINE-APPLE. (Bromelia ananas.) Hort. Trans. Lou- 

 don, Phillips, Lindley, and other sources. 



The pine-apple is a native of Brazil and of Mexico, from 

 whence it has been introduced to Asia, Africa, and Europe. 

 According to Swinburn, it flourishes, unprotected, at 

 Reggio, near Naples. In America, it grows as far north 

 as the Bermudas. According to Loudon, it is by no 

 means so delicate as many imagine; as it will bear a 

 higher degree of heat, and a degree of cold which would 

 have destroyed the foliage of the vine and peach in a state 

 of vegetation. The most northerly points where they are 

 known to be cultivated in Europe, unprotected, in the open 

 ground, are, at Reggio, near Naples, lat. 40 50' ; in Amer- 

 ica, at the Bermudas, in the latitude of 32. This fruit 

 will flourish in all the sea islands and maritime districts of 

 Florida, from the latitudes of 24 20' to 28 north. 



" The leaves of the pine-plant are long, narrow, chan- 

 neled, and in general furnished with spines or prickles on 

 their edges. The flowers are on a loose spike, on a scape, 

 which is leafy at top ; as the spike ripens, it takes the 

 form of a fleshy, scaly strobile, or fruit composed of many 

 berries, which have scarcely any cells or seeds." 



The fruit, in form, bears some resemblance to the cones 

 of some species of pine ; its flesh is pretty firm, of a de- 

 licious fragrance ; and for richness of flavor it is thought 

 unrivalled. Some have described its flavor like that of 

 strawberries with wine and sugar. Extraordinary speci- 

 mens have weighed from nine to ten pounds. 



USES. The pine-apple is considered the best of the 

 dessert fruits ; it is also preserved in sugar, and is used in 

 the preparations of marmalades and other confectionaries ; 

 and the juice of the pine-apple, fermented, affords a deli- 

 cious and wholesome vinous liquor. 



