458 THE HOT-HOUSE. [July. 



will be hard, woody, and full of round knobs, which are the rudi- 

 ments of the roots. 



In taking oft' each sucker, remove it two or three times backward 

 and forward, in a side-way direction, and it will come out with its 

 bottom entire, which should be cut smooth and deprived of any rag- 

 ged ness. 



Place these in a shady part of the hot-house for two or three days, 

 and then plant them in small sized pots, just so deep as to keep 

 them fast in the earth; after which they are to be treated as direct- 

 ed for the crowns. The proper size of the pots to plant full grown 

 crowns and suckers in, is six inches diameter in top, and five and 

 a half deep. 



Care of the Fruiting Pines. 



The fruiting pines must now have abundance of air, which adds 

 much to the flavour of the fruit; but though the heat of the day, at 

 this season, is very intense, yet, when north-westerly winds pre- 

 vail, the night sometimes happens, though not frequently, to be 

 rather cold for the fruiting plants; in which case it maybe prudent 

 to close the lights at night, taking care to slide them open early in 

 the morning; this however must be governed by circumstances and 

 by the heat of the bark-pit, which, if any way brisk, will render it 

 the more necessary to give plenty of air at all times. 



As the pine apples come to maturity, care should be taken to cut 

 them oft' when in due perfection and before they become too ripe; 

 generally cutting them in a morning, each with several inches of 

 the stalk, and with the crown of leaves at top, till served to the 

 table. 



When the fruit is eaten, it will be proper to preserve the crowns 

 and any young suckers growing round at the base,* particularly if 

 wanted for increase. 



Shifting the Succession Pines. 



The pine plants which are to fruit in the ensuing season, should 

 be shifted either in the last week of this month or the first in Au- 

 gust, into full sized pots, of about eleven or twelve inches diameter 

 at top, and ten deep; by doing this so tarly in the year they will 

 have time to make good roots before spring, for otherwise they sel- 

 dom produce very large fruit. 



Having the pots and new compost ready, take the plants out of 

 the bark-bed, and shift them in the following method. 



First, place a shell in the bottom of the new pot, and put in two 

 inches deep of fresh compost: then turn the plant out of the old 

 pot with the ball entire, and place it immediately into the new, 



* The brown Antigua, the king, and the sugar-loaf kinds, commonly pro- 

 duce suckers at the top of the stem, immediately under the fruit; but these 

 are generally small, and of much less value than those produced about the 

 surface of the earth. 



