THE PINE APPLE. 137 



night, to lower the heat of the air within very 

 nearly to that of the air without. This is perfectly 

 natural treatment, consistent with what takes place 

 in those countries where the Pine Apple is grown 

 in the open air, and consonant with the practice of 

 Mr. Knight. 



Insects. These he keeps off by regimen, water- 

 ing with clear water, and filling the house with 

 steam. In short, Mr. Oldacre's opinions and prac- 

 tices, as far as circumstances have required prac- 

 tice, are in perfect unison with Mr. M'Phail's : and 

 it is not, perhaps, too much to assert, that experi- 

 ence will bring every gardener to the same result. 



Fruit produced. Mr. Oldacre considers that the 

 fruit he produces in the copper-roofed house is 

 never so high-flavoured as that grown in the other 

 with a timber roof, though the treatment be in all 

 other respects the same. This certainly appears a 

 very singular circumstance, and not to be account- 

 ed for in the present state of human knowledge. 

 The bars of iron, or copper sashes, might possibly 

 (but not probably) make some difference in the 

 electrical state of the air of the house, but this is 

 the utmost degree of variation we can conceive a 

 metallic roof capable of making. If it admits more 

 light, or abstracts more heat, these are effects easily 

 counteracted, if desired, and must have been so, 

 if they existed in any degree, as Mr. Oldacre 

 asserts the culture in both houses was exactly 

 alike. 



