THE PINE APPLE. 103 



as the bug harbours most in the angles of the leaves, 

 it stands the better chance of being effectual, on 

 account that it will also there remain longest, and 

 there its sediment will settle. In using it in this 

 latter way, however, if repeated waterings be ne- 

 cessary, the liquor should be reduced in strength 

 by the addition of a third or a fourth part water. 



" The brown scaly insect, also a coccus, is often 

 found on the Pine, and other stove plants j but I 

 never could perceive that it does any other injury 

 than dirty them, and so is of less importance than 

 the other species, which eats or corrodes the leaves, 

 in so far as it leaves them full of brown specks or 

 blotches. The above liquor, however, is a remedy 

 for either, and indeed for most insects, on account 

 of its strength, and glutinous nature. 



" Ants are also to be found in the Pinery ; but I 

 never could observe that they do the plants any 

 harm, though they are generally to be found in the 

 pots, and among the bark. They are most fre- 

 quently to be met with there, if the coccus be pre- 

 sent ; and seem to feed on its larvae, or perhaps on 

 its faeces." 



Fruit produced. He does not state any deter- 

 minate object as to this subject ; if the object be 

 to have large fruit, he says, all suckers of the root 

 and stem must be twisted off; and to retard the 

 progress of fruit that is shown too early, he re- 

 commends re-potting the plants in February. He 

 says, " If Pine Apples be not cut soon after they 

 begin to colour, that is, just when the fruit is of a 



H 4 



