138 BRITISH MODES OF CULTIVATING 



On the whole, we must suspend our opinion on 

 this subject; or rather conclude that it is more 

 probable, Mr. Oldacre is mistaken in thinking the 

 culture he gives to the plants in both houses the 

 same, than that the single circumstance of a metal- 

 lic roof on one of them, should make such differ- 

 ence in its produce. This report, which had been 

 made current at the Horticultural Society, excited 

 the attention of Sir Thomas Baring, who, having 

 an extensive range of metallic hot-houses, at East 

 Stratton Park, his seat in Hampshire, soon after- 

 wards sent a very fine Pine Apple to the Society, to 

 be tasted at one of their meetings. At this meeting 

 we were present, but though we tasted of this Pine 

 Apple, yet not having sufficient opportunity of 

 comparing it with any other, we could not discern 

 any difference. When a great many fruits are 

 tasted in rapid succession, and of each such smaU 

 portions as hardly to afford its real taste, the im- 

 pression on the palate is evanescent; or at any rate, 

 it is not, perhaps, too much to say, that under such 

 circumstances, it is difficult to form a solid judg- 

 ment. 



SECT. XV. 



Culture of the Pine Apple, by William Toivnsend Aiton, Esq. 

 gardener to the King, at Kew and Kensington. 



IT is only within the last four years, that the 

 Pine culture, in the royal gardens, has been above 



