PINE-APPLE — PROPAGATION. 



Soil. — Various nice and minute directions have been 

 given respecting composts for pine-apple plants. Any 

 compost, however, will be found suitable, which is at 

 once rich, fresh, and simple. Perhaps a mixture of the 

 top-spit, including the turf of an old pasture, and about 

 a half of good, well-rotted dung, combines these quali- 

 ties as completely as possible. When it is necessary to 

 lighten these materials, a compost of decayed leaves 

 and a little sand may be added. It is of importance 

 that the compost, whatever it may be, should be pre- 

 pared a considerable time beforehand, and frequently 

 turned over. It should be broken wi-th the spade, but 

 not screened ; and when used, it should not be too moist. 

 Pine-apple plants are found to show fruit more readily 

 in a rich light soil than in strong loam, but not to pro- 

 duce such large fruit. In selecting his compost, the 

 cultivator must make his election between these advan- 

 tages. At all events the soil must be rich ; it caa 

 scarcely be too rich. " The pine," says an intelligent 

 writer in the Qardeners 3Iagazine, vol. ix., " is a gross 

 feeder, and will thrive in vegetable manure, however 

 rich and fresh." Liquid manures have been applied; 

 but these, however useful when recent, prove deleterious 

 in a fermented state. 



Propagation. — In the cultivated state, the fruit of 

 the pine-apple becomes so succulent that it seldom or 

 never forms seed. The different varieties are propa- 

 gated hy planting, the crowns or tufts which grow oh 

 the fruit, or the suckers which appear at the base of the 

 stem. These, when removed from the fruit or the stem, 

 are laid aside for a few days, till the scar at the place 

 of separation have dried or healed, a precaution to pre- 

 vent their rotting ; after which they are potted imme- 

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