ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE PINK-APPLE. 307 



second appeared to have diminished their numbers very considerably ; 

 and after a third application I could not discern any. Whether they 

 died, or marched off only, I am ignorant ; and the period at which 1 

 remove my fig-trees into the open air having arrived, I had no further 

 opportunity of trying the experiment. I applied the water to the mature 

 and somewhat old leaves only of the fig-trees*. 



LXVI. UPON THE SUPPOSED CHANGES OF THE CLIMATE OF ENGLAND. 



[Read before the HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, May oth, 1829.] 



THERE are, I believe, few persons who have noticed, and who can 

 recollect, the state of the climate of England half a century ago, who 

 will not be found to agree in opinion that considerable changes have 

 taken place in it ; and that our winters are now generally warmer than 

 they were at that period. The opinions of such persons would be 

 entitled to very little attention if they were adduced to prove that our 

 climate has grown colder, because they themselves being far advanced in 

 life, and therefore less patient of cold, and being also incapable of 

 bearing the same degree of exercise which kept them warm in youth, 

 might be readily drawn to conclude that the severity of our winters has 

 increased. But when their evidence tends to prove that our winters 

 have grown warmer, it cannot, I think, reasonably be rejected. My own 

 habits and pursuits, from a very early period of my life to the present 

 time, have led me to expose myself much to the weather in all seasons of 

 the year, and under all circumstances ; and no doubt whatever remains 

 in my mind but that our winters are generally a good deal less severe 

 than formerly, our springs more cold and ungenial, our summers, and 

 particularly the latter parts of them, as warm at least as they formerly 

 were, and our autumns considerably warmer ; and I think that I can 

 point out some physical causes, and adduce some rather strong facts, in 

 support of these opinions. 



The subject is one of much importance to the horticulturist, as it 

 points out to him in what respects he ought to deviate from the practice of 



* During the last season, several specimens of the fruit of the pine-apple, managed as above 

 described, were sent to the Society by Mr. Knight. They were all, without exception, of the 

 very best quality in point of flavour ; they were universally destitute of fibre ; and in every 

 respect as perfectly grown as any I ever saw of the same size. March 30, 1829. Jos. Sabine, 

 Secretary. 



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