THE PINE APPLE. 105 



deeper than you find it of that pliable texture; 

 likewise procure, if possible, a quantity of deers'- 

 dung : if none can be conveniently got, sheeps'-dung 

 will do, and a quantity of swines'-dung. Let the 

 above three sorts be brought to some convenient 

 place, and laid up in three different heaps ridge- 

 ways, for at least six months ; and then mix them 

 in the following manner, covering the dung with a 

 little soil before it is mixed : four wheelbarrows of 

 the above earth ; one barrow of sheep's-dung, and 

 two barrows of swine's-dung. This composition," 

 he adds, " if carefully and properly prepared, will 

 answer every purpose for the growth of Pine-plants 

 of every age and kind. It is necessary that it should 

 remain a year before applied to use, that it may 

 receive the advantage of the summer's sun and 

 winter's frost ; and it need not be screened or sifted 

 before using, but only well broken with the hands 

 and spade, as when finely sifted it becomes too com- 

 pact for the roots of the plants." 



General management. In rearing the young 

 plants, he generally plants the crowns in the bark till 

 they have struck root ; but the suckers he pots at 

 once, unless they are small and green at bottom, 

 when he treats them like the crowns. The pots he 

 uses for both crowns and suckers are five inches 

 diameter, and four inches deep, unless the suckers 

 are very strong, when he puts them in pots seven 

 inches and a quarter wide, by six and a half inches 

 deep. The plants are shifted in the March follow- 

 ing into pots nine inches in diameter, by eight inches 



