PINE- APPLE SOIL PROPAGATION. 35 ' 



Soil. — Various nice and minute directions have been 

 given respecting composts for pine-apple plants. Any 

 compost, however, will be found suitable, which is at once 

 rich, fresh, and simple. Perhaps a mixture of the top- 

 spit, including the turf of an old pasture, and about a half 

 of good, well-rotted dung, combines these qualities as com- 

 pletely as possible. When it is necessary to lighten these 

 materials, a compost of decayed leaves and a little sand 

 may be added. It is of importance that the compost 

 whatever it may be, should be prepared a considerable time 

 beforehand, and frequently turned over. It should be 

 broken with the spade, but not screened ; and when used, 

 it should not be too moist. Pine-apple plants are found 

 to show fruit more readily in a rich light soil than in strong 

 loam, but not to produce such large fruit. In selecting 

 his compost, the cultivator must make his selection between 

 these advantages. At all events the soil must be rich ; it 

 can scarcely be too rich. " The pine," says an intelligent 

 writer in the Gardener's Magazine, vol. ix., " is a gross 

 feeder, and will thrive in vegetable manure, however rich 

 and fresh." Liquid manures have been applied ; but these, 

 however useful when recent, prove deleterious in a ferment- 

 ed state. 



Propagation. — In the cultivated state, the fruit of the 

 pine-apple becomes so succulent that it seldom or never 

 forms seed. The different varieties are propagated by 

 planting the crowns or tufts which grow on the fruit,- or 

 the suckers which appear at the base of the stem. These, 

 when removed from the fruit or the stem, are laid aside 

 for a few days, till the scar at the place of separation have 

 dried or healed, a precaution to prevent their rotting ; 

 after which they are potted immediately. Sometimes, late 

 in the season, they are merely thrust into exhausted tan, 



