JULY.] TOE HOT-HOUSE. 445 



Loosening and giving fresh earth. 



It will be very proper at this time to examine the pets and tubs 

 in general ; and where the earth is inclinable to bind, let the surface 

 be carefully loosened to a little depth, breaking the earth small with 

 the hands, and at the same time add thereto, if not done in any of 

 the preceding months, some fresh compost ; then level the surface 

 neatly. 



This dressing will do the plants more good than many people 

 might imagine ; but in particular to such as are in small pots. 



Gathering and sowing Seeds. 



Collect all the different sorts of seeds as they ripen ; spread them 

 upon paper in a dry shady place ; and when sufficiently hardened, 

 let them be carefully preserved in their pods or husks, or in paper 

 bags, till the proper season for sowing them. 



The seeds of Geraniums, Xeranthemums, and of any other 

 quick growing kinds of Green-house plants, may now be sown, and 

 if properly attended to, will attain to a neat size before winter. 



THE HOT-HOUSE. - 

 Pine-Aisles . 



THE Pine-apples being now arriving at maturity, it may not 

 be unacceptable, to give some account of the different varieties. 



Of the Bromelia there have been nine distinct species described, 

 viz. the B. Ananas. B. Pinguin. B. Karatas. B. lingulata. B. 

 humilis. B. Acanga B. bracteata. B. nudicaulis, and the B. 

 panicuhgera. But as the first species is the only one cultivated on 

 account of its fruit, I shall confine myself exclusively to it, at least 

 for the present. 



From the Bromelia Ananas, or Pine-apple, as it is called, on ac- 

 count of the resemblance of the shape of its fruit to the cones of 

 some species of pine-tree, particularly to that of the Pinus pinca^ 

 or stone-pine, there arise six principal varieties, which have been 

 cultivated for their fruit, &c. 1. The variety ovata, or Queen-pine. 

 2. The fiyramidalis, or Sugar-loaf Pine. 3. The lucida, or King- 

 Pine. 4. The glabra, or Smooth Pine. 5. The serotina, or Late 

 Pine ; and 6. The -viridis, or Green Pine. 



The Queen Pine, is the most commonly cultivated, but seems 

 daily to decrease in esteem. Its flesh is of a fine yellow colour, 

 but in the hot summer months it is very aptnot to cut firm ; is lia- 

 ble to crack in the middle, and often contains an insipid watery juice ; 



