160 IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CULTURE OF 



than useless, after the scions, or crowns, have 

 emitted roots; and that the Pine Apple, when 

 treated in the manner I have recommended, is a 

 fruit of most extremely easy culture. 



" It is contended, in favour of the bark-bed, that 

 the soil in inter-tropical climates is warm, and that 

 the bark-bed does no more than nature does in the 

 native climate of the Pine Apple. And if the 

 bark-bed could be made to give a steady temper- 

 ature of about ten degrees below that of the day 

 temperature of the air in the stove, I readily admit 

 that Pine plants would thrive better in a compost 

 of that temperature, than in a colder. But the 

 temperature of the bark-bed is constantly subject 

 to excess, and defect, and I contend, and can prove, 

 that the above-mentioned temperature is very 

 nearly given in my stove. For the temperature of 

 the day being about 90 or 95, and that of the 

 night 70, the mould in the pots will necessarily 

 acquire nearly the intermediate temperature of 80. 

 It is true, that two disturbing causes are in action ; 

 the evaporation from the mould, and porous sur- 

 face of the pots, and the radiant heat of the sun. 

 But these causes operate in opposition to each other, 

 and probably nearly negative the operation of each 

 other, as far as respects the temperature of the 

 mould in the pots. 



'* A very great number of gardeners have within 

 the last twelve months visited my garden. Some 

 of these were at once convinced of the advantages 

 of the mode of culture which they saw ; others 



