BRO 



BRO 



nament are, l . B. Ananas, Ananas, or Pine- 

 Apple; 2. B. Pi /it: id, i, Pinguin, or Broad-leaved 

 Wild Ananas; 3. B. Karatas, Karatas, or Up- 

 right Wild Ananas; 4. B.lingulata, Tongue- 

 leaved Bromciia; 5. B.nttdieamUsy Naked-stalked 

 Bromelia. 



The first is an- herbaceous plant, which has a 

 thick fibrous perennial root; the leaves being- 

 long, erect, narrow, sharp-pointed, and for the 

 most part serrate on the edges, rising to the 

 height of two or three feet, and somewhat re- 

 sembling those of the aloe, only more thin and 

 less succulent. The stem, which proceeds from 

 the centre of them, is round, of strong growth, 

 and supports the fruit near the top, which is 

 erect, and mostly of an oval-oblong shape, be- 

 ing constituted of numerous tubercles, having 

 above it a crown of leaves. The fruit, in its 

 more young advancing growth, sends forth 

 many small flowers of a blueish colour, proceed- 

 ing singly from the knobs or tubercles. As 

 these decline, the fruit begins to swell or increase 

 in size, becoming fleshy and of a darkish-yellow 

 colour, affording a highly fragrant smell. It is 

 a fruit well known and highly esteemed on ac- 

 count of its delicious flavour. It is supposed to 

 be a native of Africa, and is said to have been 

 first raised in this climate by Sir Matthew Decker, 

 at Richmond. 



There are many varieties: but those of most 

 importance for cultivation are, the Oueen, the 

 Sugar-loaf, the Montserrat, the King, the 

 Smooth Pine, and the Green Pine. Other va- 

 rieties arc likewise known in cultivation : as the 

 Black Antigua or Ripley; the Granada, with 

 marbled leaves and very large fruit; '.he Bogwarp 

 Pine, with broad green leaves; the Surinam 

 Pine, with silver-striped leaves; with gold- 

 striped leaves. 



The first of the above varieties, or Queen 

 Pine, is not so large as the Sugar-loaf, and the 

 juice is more astringent ; but it is in very general 

 culture, and is said by Mr. Nieol to be more 

 depended upon for a regular crop than any 

 other. 



The second sort, or Sugar-loaf Pine, is distin- 

 guished from the others by the leaves having 

 purple stripes on the insides the whole length. 

 The fruit is large, and when ripe inclines to 

 Btraw colour. It is apt not to fruit in proper 

 season. 



The third, or Montserrat Pine, has the leaves 

 of a dark-brown inclining to purple on the in- 

 side, and the knobs are rather long and flat. It 

 is lone in fruiting. 



The King Pine is a large and very fine sort of 

 fruit ; but Mr. Nicol has~ibund it to require less 



water and more gravel in the mould and bottoms 

 of the pots than other sorts. 



The Smooth Pine is only cultivated for va- 

 rietv, the fruit being worth nothing. 



The Green Pine is a scarce variety here, but 

 is in high estimation in America: the fruit when 

 well ripened is of an olive cast; therefore to 

 have it green it must be cut early, when it is un- 

 fit for eating. 



The Antigua Pine is large, and likewise of an 

 excellent sort. 



The second species has the leaves very thick 

 about the root; and from the centre of these 

 springs the stalk, which generally rises to the 

 height of twelve or sixteen inches above the 

 foliage, dividing into many little lateral 

 branches, which bear so many single flowers. 

 When the plant begins to shoot into blossom, 

 all the leaves become of a fine scarlet colour 

 towards the stalk, and continue so until the fruit 

 begins to ripen ; but it then begins to change, 

 ana afterwards fades gradually away. The fruits 

 are separate, each nearly of the size of a wal- 

 nut; the pulp has an agreeable sweetness, but 

 joined with such a sharpness that, if it be suf- 

 fered to lie any time in the mouth, it will 

 corrode the palate and gums, so as to make 

 the blood ooze out. Prom its having a tuft 

 of leaves growing above the fruits, it has at 

 first the appearance of the Pine-Apple; but the 

 difference is obvious on examination, the fruits 

 not being coadunate, as in that, but produced 

 separately in clusters. 



I he third is an elegant plant, prrducing nu- 

 merous radical leaves, which are of a subulate- 

 linear shape, sharp-pointed, and edged with 

 spines. The flowers are scentless, seated in the 

 bosom or middle part of the plant, rose-co- 

 loured, with the calyx and germ downy. The 

 length of the leaves in its native situation is six 

 or seven feet. The fruits are oval, two or three 

 hundred in number, and grow sessile in a heap 

 or central group, surrounded by paleaceous ex- 

 panded leaves orbractcs; they contain a succu- 

 lent whitish or yellowish flesh, under a coria- 

 ceous and yellowish bark. When ripe they are 

 far from unpleasant, but in the unripe state 

 they set the teeth on edge and excoriate the 

 mouth. The ceconomy of this plant in the 

 preservation of its fruit to maturity is wonder- 

 ful, being so protected by the spines of the 

 surrounding leaves as to be secure from all in- 

 juries. 



The fourth species has shorter leaves than the 

 fifth, standing erect, narrow at the base, in- 

 creasing in width gradually to the top, sharply 

 serrate, and of a deep-green colour. The flower- 



