ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE PINE-APPLE. 261 



it will, to retard the ripening of the fruit of those plants of the pine- 

 apple which blossom late in the summer, or early in the autumn, such 

 fruit might be made to supply our tables abundantly in the spring or 

 early summer months. 



Since my last paper upon the management of the pine-apple plant 

 was written, I have placed a few plants, which have blossomed in autumn, 

 in very high temperature (generally above that of 80), and very near 

 to white glass of good quality; and so circumstanced, even the queen 

 pine-apple has swelled nearly, if not quite, as rapidly, as it usually does 

 in the best seasons of the year, and its taste and flavour have been quite 

 as good as those of that kind usually are in winter. Other varieties have 

 succeeded better, and one which I received without a name from the 

 West Indies, and which I am informed is the St. Vincent's pine-apple, 

 acquired, in the last month, a degree of excellence both in taste and 

 flavour which I have rarely found equalled in any season*. 



XLIX. DESCRIPTION OF A MELON AND PINE PIT. 



[Read befo/e the HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, July 16th, 1822.] 



I SENT an account to the Horticultural Society, in the last springt, of 

 a pine-apple, which, having blossomed in the month of July, did not 

 ripen till the following month of April, owing to its having passed the 

 autumn and winter in low temperature ; and I thence inferred that pine- 

 apples might easily be so managed as to supply the market abundantly 

 in seasons when few species of fruit can be obtained. In the present 

 spring I erected a small pine-pit upon a new construction, for the purpose 

 of ascertaining, by experiment upon a few plants, whether my opinions 

 were well founded ; but not having more plants than my houses could 



NOTE BY THE SECRETARY, JOS. SABINE, ESQ. 



* A few days after this paper was read to the Society, being on a visit to the president, at 

 Downton, I had the gratification of observing the condition and appearance of the pine-apple 

 plants described by him in the communication above referred to ; the plants, which were 

 expected to begin showing their fruit in the next month, though young, were remarkable for 

 their vigour and strength. They were grown in pots of much larger size than usual, which were 

 raised so as to bring the upper leaves nearly in contact with the glass. The plants themselves 

 were firmly rooted in the mould, their leaves were of peculiar breadth and substance, the stems 

 were short and of unusual thickness, and the whole had the appearance of extraordinary 

 health. 



t See the preceding paper. The experiment has since been, in many instances, repeated, 

 with similar results. 



