THE PINE-APPLE. 45 



winter fruiting sorts, except it be that I never keep them 

 so dry and so completely at rest in winter as those in- 

 tended to start early. This is with the view of their 

 not resting and maturing themselves so thoroughly in 

 autumn and winter as would cause them to start when 

 excited in spring. The Smooth Cayenne requires more 

 moisture at the root when growing than is good for 

 most other sorts. It is also more impatient of bright 

 sun early in the season than any I know, more especi- 

 ally if kept gently on the move all winter. And rather 

 than allow the foliage to become bronzed, shade should 

 be applied for a time, as already directed. When 

 swelling off in winter, water at the root will of course 

 not require to be so frequently given as in summer, 

 and there should be no syringing. The evaporating 

 trays will keep the air sufficiently moist. Air must 

 be put on for a short time in the middle of every fine 

 day. 



PLANTS THAT MISS FEU1TING, 



It not unfrequently occurs that a few plants miss 

 starting into fruit along with the others, but continue 

 to grow, in spite of every effort to make them fruit. 

 The common practice is to throw these away. When 

 I have room to conveniently operate on these, I cut the 

 plants over at the surface of the soil, and strip a few 

 of the leaves off them, and pot them deeply and very 

 firmly in fruiting-pots. They are slightly shaded for 

 ten days,- by which time, with a brisk bottom-heat, 

 they begin to send out wonderfully strong roots, and 

 then the shading is discontinued, and they are watered. 

 In this way they are transformed into dwarf strong 

 plants, and I always find that they start into fruit very 

 soon after, and swell off fine fruit. When I have found 



