THE PINE APPLE. fi$ 



entire ; also the shifting of them oftener than I 

 have here recommended. These methods I dis- 

 approve, for the following reasons : 



First, it is observable that the Pine-plant begins 

 to make its roots at the very bottom of the stem ; 

 and, as the plant increases in size, fresh roots are 

 produced from the stem, still higher and higher, 

 and the , bottom roots die in proportion : so that, if 

 a plant in the greatest vigour be turned out of its 

 pot as soon as the fruit is cut, there will be found 

 at the bottom a part of the stem, several inches in 

 length, naked, destitute of roots, and smooth. Now, 

 according to the above method, the whole of the 

 roots which the plant produces being permitted to 

 remain, on the stem to the last, the old roots decay 

 and turn mouldy, to the great detriment of those 

 afterwards produced. 



Secondly, the first ball, which remains with the 

 plant full two years, by length of time will become 

 hard, cloddy, and exhausted of its nourishment, 

 and must therefore prevent the roots afterwards 

 produced from growing with that freedom and 

 vigour which they would do in fresher and better 

 mould. 



Thirdly, the old ball continually remaining after 

 the frequent shiftings, it will be too large, when 

 put into the fruiting-pot, to admit of a sufficient 

 quantity of fresh mould to support the plant till its 

 fruit becomes ripe, which is generally a whole year 

 from the last time of shifting. 



It is an object of emulation amongst gardeners 



