2 OF THE PIXE APPLE. 



taken its rise from the resemblance of the fruit to 

 the cone of some species of the Pine tree. 



There are twelve species of Bromelia, described 

 by Persoon ; the fruit of all which may be con- 

 sidered edible, and is occasionally made use of 

 by the natives. Six of these species are natural- 

 ized in the West Indies ; and the rest are found 

 wild in Chili, Peru, and other parts of South 

 America. 



The Bromelia Ananas is the only species in 

 general cultivation ; it is cultivated abundantly 

 in both the Indies, and in China. It is said to 

 grow wild in Africa; but Linneus ascribes it to 

 New Spain and Surinam ; and Acosta (Histoire 

 Naturelle des Indes,) says, it was first sent from the 

 province of Santa Croce, in Brazil, into the West, 

 and afterwards into the East Indies and China. 

 Persoon considers it as a native of South America ; 

 and Baron Humboldt and the Prince Maximilian 

 found it in the Caraccas, in the Brazils. 



Whichever way it was introduced from South 

 America to the West Indies, its culture in these 

 islands, and particularly in Jamaica, has been car- 

 ried on for an unknown length of time. It is vul- 

 garly supposed in this country, that it grows wild 

 there ; but, from the best information which we 

 have been able to collect, the true Ananas is only 

 cultivated in gardens, or grounds under spade 

 culture ; and there much in the same way as cab- 

 bages are in this country, and produces its fruit in 

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