B R O 



BRO 



stem rises from the centre of ihe plant, di- 

 viding at top into several branches; the upper 

 parts of these have close spikes of flowers, which 

 come out alternately from the sides, each having 

 a narrow entire leaf just below it, which is longer 

 than the spike. 



In the fifth, as well as in the preceding, the 

 leaves are very like those of the Aloe, but not 



so thick and succulent ; the ed 



ges 



re indented. 



and armed with strong black spines. The flower- 

 stem is nearly three feet high ; the lower part has 

 entire leaves placed alternately at every joint ; 

 at the upper part are the flowers, set in a louse 

 spike or thyrse. These are succeeded by ovate 

 seed-vessels, having a longitudinal partition, in 

 the centre of which, on every side, arc fastened 

 smooth cylindrical seeds. 



Culture. — The cultivation of the Pine is more 

 difficult, and requires a more exact and nice at- 

 tention in its management in this clima'e than 

 that of almost any other plant. It is only ca- 

 pable of being effected, so as to afford good 

 fruit, by the assistance of the stove of the hot- 

 house with the artificial aid of lire heat. And, in 

 order to accomplish the business with the 

 greatest ease and convenience and in the most 

 perfect manner, besides the stove of the hot- or 

 fruiting-house, others are necessary for the 

 purpose of bringing the plants forward in, till 

 ready to set out in the fruiting-stove, which 

 are termed nursery-stoves, or pits, and succession- 

 stoves. 



And where large quantities of such plants are 

 cultivated, it is also useful to have what are called 

 bark-pits, formed either by a deep frame of 

 wood, or of brick-work, six feet in width with 

 sufficient length, five or six feet deep behind, 

 and four and a half in front, having the top 

 glazed, to make bark or other hot-beds in, 

 for the immediate reception of the crowns and 

 suckers from the parent-plants, and for prevent- 

 ing the succession-stove from being crowded too 

 much. 



When the whole culture of these plants is to 

 be effected in one stove only, the plants must be 

 raised and fruited together; by which practice 

 not above one half of the stove or the hot-house 

 can be occupied at one time with fruiting plants : 

 besides, the young plants are often liable to be 

 brought forward too rapidly. 



All these different stoves and nursing-pits 

 should be provided with proper flues and fire- 

 places, so contrived as to work steadily and 

 save fuel as much as possible, as upon this the 

 expense of the culture of the plants in a great 

 measure depends. Sec Hot-House, Stove, 

 and Dauk-Tit. 



It is remarked by Mr. Nicol, that stoves for 

 this use are variously constructed. Some arc 

 single pitted; some double; and some even 

 triple; some have flues running under, and 

 some round the bark-bed. These he considers 

 as being very dangerous to the roots of the plants 

 if over-heated. He also disapproves of double 

 and triple stoves; as being very uneasv to work 

 in stormy weather, and confining a vast quan- 

 tity of stagnate unwholsome air in dull hazy 

 weather. A stove in which there is a perfect 

 command of fire heat, and which admits a free 

 circulation of air in all parts, is to be preferred ; 

 and none are so convenient for this purpose as 

 single ones. 



The situations for them should be dry, and 

 the bottoms or floors raised above the surface 

 ground. The common practice of having 

 borders for vines to be trained up the rafters, 

 Mr. Nicol considers as highly prejudicial to the 

 Pine plants. 



Preparation of the Bark-ieds. — The next cir- 

 cumstance of importance in the culture of these 

 plants is that of forming the beds in the stoves 

 and pits. These are differently constituted, 

 with different cultivators, and are designed for 

 the purpose of plunging the pots with the plants 

 into, in order to their due growth and support. 

 These beds are mostly composed of tanners' 

 bark, as being a substance that not only affords 

 the most uniform and durable heat, but which 

 is the best suited to the nourishment and growth 

 of the plants and fruit, as well as the most ma- 

 nageable. See Bark-Bed. 



The great desideratum in the making of these 

 beds is that of producing such an uniform mo- 

 derate bottom heat as may not injure the roots 

 of the plants, while it is sufficient to promote 

 their regular growth. The author of The Scotch 

 Forcing Gardener observes, that his idea of the 

 quantity and quality of bottom heat, that is 

 required by the Pine, is different from that gene- 

 rally entertained. He never wishes the plants, 

 except in striking suckers, to stand in a bot- 

 tom heat higher than that of blood heat at any 

 time, and that too of a mild moist nature. 

 If the watch-stick, to the depth of the bottom 

 of the pot, feels just a little warm, appied to 

 the hand or the cheek, when the body is of 

 a comfortable temperature, it is sufficient; and 

 he thinks it consistent with reason, that the 

 bottom and superficial heat should correspond 

 at all times. In order more effectually to attain 

 this, and that the roots may sustain no injury, 

 he has recourse to the following rules in forming, 

 turning, and trenching the beds. He never 

 sifts the tan in the pit, or adds above an eighth 



