B R O M E L I A C E JE. 



631 



Sugar-loaf, Montserrat, Antigua, King Pino, Green 

 Pine, &c. Of these the two first are perhaps the 

 ino.^t esteemed. The white or queen pine is the 

 most common in Europe, and is the most to 'be 

 relii-d on for a certain and good crop. 



Pine apples seldom perfect their seeds in this 

 country, and hence they are propagated by suckers, 

 which appear on the fruit stalks or proceed from the 

 base of the plant, and by crowns or tufts, those pecu- 

 liar productions which grow on the fruit. The suckers, 

 after they have assumed a brownish colour, are re- 

 moved from the plant, by breaking down the leaf 

 beneath them and then moving them gently back- 

 wards and forwards till they fall off. The crowns are 

 generally returned to the gardeners after the fruit 

 has been presented at table. 



The culture of the pine apple is very expensive 

 and troublesome. Fruit is seldom produced till after 

 the lapse of two or three years. A bark-pit is used 

 for nursing the crowns or suckers, the plants are 

 then transferred to a low stove called a succession pit, 

 where they are kept till they are ready for fruiting ; 

 they are then removed to the pine-stove orfruiting- 

 kouse. In order to secure good pine apples, plenty 

 of room must be allowed to the plants in the nursing 

 and succession pits, so that the lower parts of them 

 may swell out and increase in bulk. Mr. Knight 

 says that a loamy soil, well enriched with rotten 

 dung, and the pots sufficiently drained, with abund- 

 ance of heat without sudden extremes, will ensure 

 large and well flavoured fruit. 



Pines should be watered sparingly in dull weather, 

 more especially in winter, from the beginning of 

 October to the first or middle of March. After that, 

 plentiful waterings may be given every three or four 

 days. Fruiting plants ought to receive plenty of 

 water from the time they go out of flower till they 

 begin to colour. When they approach maturity, 

 water should be applied more sparingly, inasmuch as 

 by this means the flavour of the fruit is increased. 

 The fruit is generally ripened from the month of 

 June to September, and is known to be perfect by its 

 acquiring a fine golden colour and a delightfully 

 fragrant smell. The fruit is eaten in greatest perfec- 

 tion soon after being cut. It may be preserved, how- 

 ever, for several weeks, by putting the stem into a 

 bottle of pure water, renewed every two or three 

 days, and placed in a well dried room at the tempe- 

 rature of 60 Fahrenheit. 



In some of the East India islands pine-apples are 

 said to be so abundant at certain seasons of the year, 

 that the inhabitants clean their swords by running 

 them through the fruit. 



A juice is obtained from the pine-apple, which by 

 fermentation yields a liquor possessing stimulating 

 and diuretic properties. 



Pines are subject to injury from the attacks oi 

 brown and white scaly insects of the coccus tribe, as 

 well as from the ant. 



Bromclia pingtii. 1 ; which is common in Jamaica, has 

 its fruit separately in clusters, and not in a cone or 

 pine. On account of its prickly leaves it is used for 

 inclosing pasture lands. It also yields a kind oi 

 thread used in the manufacture of cloth and in the 

 formation of ropes. The juice of the fruit is said to 

 be diuretic, and when mixed with water forms a cool- 

 ing drink in fever and dysentery. A vinous liquor 

 is also procured from it. 



Bromelia mcdicaulis is chiefly valued on account of 

 ts showy blossoms. Its leaves, like those of the 

 common teasel, retain a considerable quantity of 

 water in their folds, and thus afford a delicious drink 

 to the traveller in the scorching climates in which 

 the plant grows. 



Jironielia fastuosa is the most beautiful species of 

 the genus. It has rarely flowered in Britain. 



TiHandsia is another genus of this order, which 

 deserves to be noticed on account of the peculiar 

 mode in which many of its species grow. The name 

 is given in honour of Elias Tillands, who was born in 

 1640, and died in 1692. He was keeper of the 

 botanic garden at Abo, and paid much attention to 

 the botany of Finland. 



TiHandsia utrlciilata, bladder TiHandsia, is a valu- 

 able parasite found in the woods of the West Indies. 

 Its seeds are feathery, and being carried along by 

 the wind, adhere to the bark of trees. In this situa- 

 tion they take root, and send forth leaves which grow 

 in such a way as to form at their lower part a deep 

 hollow basin, capable of containing a quart of water. 

 The upper part of the leaves is narrowed, so as in 

 some measure to close the mouth of the basin, and 

 thus prevent the rapid evaporation of the water. 

 Thus even in warm countries a reservoir of water is 

 obtained, whence man and animals draw a welcome 

 supply. The water seems to be destined for the 

 support of the plant during drought. When the 

 stem of this plant is wounded, a clear white gum is 

 said to exude. 



TiHandsia itancoides, long-moss TiHandsia, is found 

 in shady woods from Virginia to Florida, as well as 

 in the West Indies and Brazil. It vegetates on the 

 black mould that collects on the bark of the ebony 

 and other trees in hot damp countries, forming dense 

 festoons, which hang from the branches in a most 

 graceful and elegant manner. The slender thread-' 

 like hoary stems of this parasite are so twisted toge- 

 ther, as to secure for them in Jamaica the name of 

 Old Man's Beard. When the hoary bark of this 

 singular parasite is separated by beating or rubbing, 

 the remains of the stems look like a mass of curled 

 horse-hair, and are used by sadlers and coach- 

 makers for stuffing pannels and cushions. They are 

 also employed in Louisiana for making mattresses. 

 The hanging nest of the Bonana bird is made from 

 the fibres of this plant. 



TiHandsia stricta, frosted stiff-leaved TiHandsia, is 

 cultivated in this country, and blossoms freel}' when 

 suspended by a thread in a warm room. When hung- 

 up in a green-house during cur winter without, the 

 application of any artificial heat, the plant decays, 

 but can be made to revive again in spring. It can 

 thus be made to endure an artificial winter. This is 

 not the case with many of our exotic parasites. Cn- 

 raguata l/girfafa, is found on old trees in the va?t 

 forests of Martinico and of Jamaica. Its leaves, like 

 those of TiHandsia usncoides, are said to collect water 

 in the rainy season. 



Other species of this genus, with their spiny leaves, 

 form an impenetrable herbage in the pampas of 

 Buenos Ayres and Brazil. Many of the Tillandsias 

 are favourites in the gardens of South America. 

 They are suspended in houses and hung from balco- 

 nies, throwing out a profusion of flowers, and diffusing 

 a delightful fragrance. From growing in the air 

 without any attachment to the soil, they have some- 



