148 IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CULTURE OF 



SECT. I. 



Of the improvements in the culture of the Pine Apple, proposed 

 by T. A. Knight, Esq. F.R.S. P. H. S., of Doiunton- Castle, 

 Herefordshire. 



MR. KNIGHT'S improvements consist chiefly in 

 the disuse of bottom heat, and in the application 

 of a much higher temperature during sunshine at 

 all seasons, but especially in the summer season, 

 and a much lower temperature during winter, and 

 during the night, at all times, than is generally 

 adopted by gardeners. 



Mr. Knight had no experience in the culture of 

 the Pine Apple till the year 1819. In that year, 

 he informs us (in a paper published in the third 

 volume of the Horticultural Transactions) that he 

 tried the effect of a very high temperature during 

 the day, in bright weather, and of comparatively 

 low temperature during the night, and in cloudy 

 weather. A fire of sufficient power only to pre- 

 serve the house in a temperature of about 70 dur- 

 ing summer, was employed ; but no air was given, 

 nor its escape facilitated, till the thermometer, per- 

 fectly shaded, indicated a temperature of 95, and 

 then only two of the upper lights, one at each end, 

 were let down about four inches. The heat of the 

 house was, consequently, sometimes raised to 110, 

 during the middle of bright days, and it generally 



