THE P1XE APPLE. 79 



sufficiency of heat and water, they grow luxuriantly 

 to a great size, and do not show fruit so soon as 

 they do when they are planted in a poor, hungry, 

 or stiff soil. 



" If the roots of Pine Apple plants be not put in 

 too great a heat, it is a difficult matter to raise the 

 heat in a hot-house to such a degree as is able to 

 destroy the plants. In the brick bed of my in- 

 venting, a powerful heat can be raised by means of 

 the linings of dung and the sun-beams, and in it 

 the insects on Pine and on other plants may be 

 shortly destroyed by heat and water. 



" Some persons may think that the Pine Apple 

 cannot bear to be watered all over its leaves in 

 winter, because it is of a succulent nature, and able 

 to live long in a hot-house without being planted 

 in earth or set in water. But, for instance, the 

 common house-leek is of a very succulent juicy na- 

 ture, and will bear the greatest heat of a hot dry 

 summer on the warm tiles of a house : but it is well 

 known that this plant thrives best when it gets oc- 

 casional showers of raku The case is exactly simi- 

 lar respecting the Pine Apple, and several other 

 plants, of a similar nature. In regard, however, to 

 the best method of cultivating the Pine Apple* 

 there have been and will be persons who differ in 

 opinion. I here give my opinion, which is founded 

 on practice, that there i not the least danger in 

 watering the plants plentifully all over their leaves 

 in winter, or in any time of the year, provided there 

 be a sufficient heat kept up in the tan bed and in 



