28 FOREIGN MODES OF CULTIVATING 



difference in atmospheric moisture, and the over- 

 heating at night, may, in some measure, account 

 for the difference in the colour of the foliage of the 

 Pine and other plants kept under glass in France 

 and Italy. 



There are some Pines grown at Rome, Florence, 

 and Genoa ; but they are not much better than 

 those of Portici. The greatest number, and the 

 finest plants and fruit which we saw in Italy, was 

 in the Vice-regal gardens at Monza, near Milan, 

 under the management of a most intelligent Italian 

 gardener, a pupil of Professor Thouin of Paris, 

 Signior Luigi Vilaresi. The treatment is in all re- 

 spects that of the Dutch ; the plants are forwarded 

 in frames, and sometimes in the open air for a 

 month or two during summer ; they are fruited in 

 large pits, with a walk behind, and when more 

 plants come into fruit than are wanted, they are 

 retarded, or preserved, by being placed in a divi- 

 sion of the pit without bark, and where they re- 

 ceive abundance of air in the day-time, but no 

 water. The plants here were large and long-leaved, 

 but still not so green and stocky as those of Eng- 

 land, and the fruit did not appear to be above one 

 and a half, or two pounds in weight. On enquiry, 

 we found no air was ever left to the pits in the 

 night-time. 



