PINE- APPLES. 679 



PROVIDENCE (White Providence). Fruit, large, oval or cylindrical, 

 as wide at the top as at the bottom ; dark green or purple, and very 

 mealy, changing gradually to reddish yellow as it ripens. Pips, very 

 large, and nearly flat, rather depressed in the centre, the scales nearly 

 half covering them, and terminating in shortened blunt points. Flesh, 

 white, solid, sweet, and juicy, rather soft and melting, and without 

 much flavour. Crown, large. Flowers, large ; dark purple. 



This is the largest and one of the coarsest of all the pine-apples. The largest I 

 have ever heard of was that grown by the gardener to Mr. Edwards, of Rheola 

 Vale, near Neath, in South Wales. It weighed fourteen pounds twelve ounces, 

 including four gill-suckers, and measured twenty-six inches in circumference, and 

 twelve inches in height. 



QUEEN (Common Queen; Old Queen}. Fruit, cylindrical ; pale 

 green and mealy, changing to rich deep yellow when ripe. Pips, rather 

 below medium size, and a little prominent, the scales covering rather 

 more than one-third, and ending in lengthened points. Flesh, pale 

 yellow, very slightly fibrous, melting, remarkably juicy and sweet, with 

 a rich pleasant acid. Crown, medium sized. Flowers, lilac. 



This is supposed to be the oldest pine-apple we have, and it is one of the best 

 varieties we have for general cultivation. The kind called Ripley's Queen is 

 more tender, and does not throw up so many suckers. 



RIPLEY (Old Eipley ; Montserrat of Nicol). Fruit, roundish ovate, 

 sometimes rather cylindrical, slightly compressed at either end ; very 

 deep green, thickly covered with meal on the middle part of the pips ; 

 pale copper-coloured when ripe. Pips, rather above medium size, and 

 prominent, the scales covering about one-half, and terminating in long 

 acute points. Flesh, pale yellow, very sweet and rich, firm and crisp, 

 not stringy, and of a very agreeable flavour. Crown, medium sized. 

 Flowers, purple. 



This is easily distinguished by being densely covered with meal on 

 the centre of the pips. It is a large, handsome, highly flavoured fruit, 

 and swells freely in winter. 



ST. VINCENT. Fruit, rather small, bluntly conical, slightly mealy, 

 of a dull olive colour, changing to dingy yellow when ripe. Pips, 

 medium sized, flat, rather depressed in the centre, the scales covering 

 nearly the half, and having short tops, which adhere closely to the 

 fruit. Flesh, pale yellow, juicy, crisp, without much fibre, rich, sweet, 

 and very highly flavoured. Crown, medium sized. Flowers, purple. 



This generally weighs from two to four pounds, and swells readily 

 during the winter months. 



St. Vincent's Cockscomb. See Montserrat. 

 St. Vincent's Sugar-loaf. See Black Jamaica. 



SMOOTH-LEAVED CAYENNE. Fruit, large, weighing from 

 seven to ten pounds, cylindrical ; dark orange -yellow. Flesh, pale 

 yellow, rich, and highly flavoured. Crown, large. Flowers, purple. 



This is the best of all winter pines. 



