448 



CULTURE OF THE PINE-APPLE. 



are plunged in rows across the bed. During the time that the fruits are 

 swelling, sprinkling is particularly attended to ; as the fruits begin to change 

 colour, plenty of air is admitted, and all sprinkling is dispensed with. Under 

 this mode of culture are obtained splendid specimens of fruit at all seasons. 

 which, though inferior in size to the twelve or fifteen pound specimens grown 

 elsewhere, may rank as a generally fine crop with that of the first culti- 

 vators of the day, taking the age of the plants into consideration. The 

 fruits of 100 plants contained in a pit here, weighed, when cut, each from 

 5 Ibs. to 7 Ibs. (G. M., vol. xi. p. 258.) 



947. Culture of the Queen pine so as to have the fruit ripe in February 

 and March. At this season Queen pines are worth two-thirds more in the 

 market than they are in July and August. 



Pit. Fig. 337 is a section of the pit, and figs. 338 to 342 are sections of 

 the pots in which the culture about to be described was carried on. 



i III 

 ii I I II 



Fig. 337. Section of a pit for fruiting Queen Pines at Qakhill. 



a. The bark-bed. 

 6, Pit for linings, 

 c, Fire-flue along the front 



and both ends, 

 rf, Open brickwork, 

 e, Open cavity. 

 /, Tile cover of open cavity, 

 with plug-holes. 



g, g, Walls of bark-bed. 



A, Rubblework. 



t,i,, Brick walls, coped with stone. 



&, Stone bracket supporting a plank 



for walking on. 

 /, Gutter to receive the water from 



the sashes, 

 w, W2, Ground level. 



948. Sizes of the pots in which the plants are grown. The sections (figs. 338 

 to 342) represent the different kinds of 

 pots employed. Fig. 338 is a No. 48, 6|- T 

 inches wide at top, 2^ inches wide at bot- 

 tom, and 4.1 inches deep Fig. 339 is a 

 No. 32, 6|- inches wide at top, 3^ inches 

 wide at bottom, and 5^ inches deep. Fig. 

 pot. 340 is a No. 24, 81 inches wide at top, 

 5 inches wide at bottom, and 6f inches deep. Fig. 341 : 

 is a No. 16, 9^ inches wide at top, 5 wide at bottom, and 8 inches deep. 



