CH. p.] PINES. 201 



reduce the number of fuckers on the plant 

 to two or three at mofl. This fhould he 

 done in the May fhifting} or when the 

 fuckers are about half grown. Choofe the 

 befl, and deftroy the others by breaking 

 out their hearts. But where the increafe 

 of the flock is the object, all fuckers, even 

 of the root, fhould be encouraged. 



Some of the kinds grow on long foot- 

 flalks, which are apt to bend down as the 

 fruit gets heavy. Thefe fhould be fupport- 

 ed to fmall flakes, &c. : For if the fruit 

 fall over, the flalk will be bruifed, and its 

 nourifhment will thereby be obflrudled. 



Pines lofe much of their flavour if they 

 are fuflfered to grow till dead ripe : and 

 where the gardener is not reflrided, he 

 fhould always cut them by the time the 

 fruit has attained to a greenifh -yellow 

 colour ; and either let them remain in the 

 heart of the old plant, or lay them on the 

 wall-plate, &c. in the flove, for a few days 

 afterwards. 



If required, Pines may be preferved in 

 good order for feveral weeks after they are 

 cut, in the following manner : Cut them, 

 as above, with the flalk as long as poffible ; 



put 



