CHAP. II. DESSERT FRUITS. 175 



he had imported these two varieties from Europe, and that the 

 former had fruited in his glass-house at Lahore. 



The Pine-apple flowers in February and March, and ripens 

 its fruit in July and August. After which, in September and 

 October, it makes its principal growth. It sometimes, however, 

 happens that plants, instead of making growth then, break into 

 flower, and so produce fruit in the Cold months. This is by no 

 means desirable, as the fruit produced thus unseasonably is, 

 from want of heat sufficient to ripen it, almost invariably acid 

 and uneatable. Young shoots and suckers not required should 

 be removed from the plants as soon as they make their ap- 

 pearance. 



After the Eains no water need be given them till they have 

 set their fruit in February and March, when, as well as during 

 all the time that the fruit is swelling, it should be bestowed 

 abundantly. It is important also that at the same time the 

 leaves should be well cleansed by occasional drenchings from 

 above, in order to remove the dirt and dust that would other- 

 wise clog their pores, and so impede the passing off duly of the 

 water they imbibe at their roots. 



The proper season for planting out Pine-apples, as will be 

 easily understood from the above, is in August. A situation 

 should be chosen for them where they may be fully exposed to 

 the sun. They should be placed in rows, at a distance of three 

 feet at least between each row, and at a distance of two feet 

 from each other in the row. 



A writer in the c Gardeners' Chronicle ' states that for soil, " a 

 compost of two parts of mellow turfy loam to one of strong turfy 

 peat, with a liberal sprinkling of clean, sharp sand, and some 

 crushed, or broken bones, will be found to answer perfectly."* 

 A writer again in the ' Gardeners' Magazine,' vol. ix.,f directs 

 that " at all events the soil must be rich it scarcely can be too 

 rich : the Pine-apple is a gross feeder, and will thrive in 

 vegetable manure however rich and fresh." In accordance 

 with the latter writer Mr. Speede also states that for the 

 cultivation of the Pine-apple in this country "no soil can be 

 too rich and no manure too strong." He directs that in 

 February the roots should be opened, and a basket of rotten 

 dung be given to each plant, and above that the like quantity 



* May 10, 1862. f Quoted from the * Encyclopaedia Britannica.' 



