HORTICULTURE. 



235 



small flues ; but aa a much less degree of heat (from 5.3 J 

 as the iniiiimuin. to 65' or at most "(f Fahr. as the max- 

 imum) is require! in these than in the fruiting-house, 

 Fine-apple, sometimes no flues are employed, the heat being trusted 

 entirely to the fermentation of a dung hot-bed, lined 

 when necessary. When flues are used, tree-leave* or 

 tanner's bark are still proper for receiving the pots, and 

 equalizing the heat. 



The pine-apple is propagated, by planting either the 

 crowns or tufts which grow on the fruit, or by the suc- 

 kers which appear on the fruit-stalk, or which proceed 

 from the base of the plant. The crowns are therefore 

 in general returned to the gardener, after having been 

 presented at table attached to the fruit ; and they are 

 kept four or five day* longer, till the place of separation 

 be healed over or dried ; they may however be almost 

 immediately planted, if the parent plant have not re- 

 ceived water perhaps for a fortnight before, in order to 

 heighten it* flavour. The stock* also from which fruit 

 has been cut, if thought of superior quality, may be en- 

 couraged to set out many suckers, by plunging them in 

 a hot-bed, and regularly watering them ; such suckers 

 making excellent plants. 



Some writers give nice and curious directions for 

 forming a compost for pine-apple plants ; but vegetable 

 mould, such as rotted txee leave* afford, may be consi- 

 dered a* perfectly good. Even kitchen garden mould 

 which ha* not been exhausted, answer* very well. If 

 old pasture soil be used, it should be mixed with well 

 rotted dung, and laid in heap for a year before being 

 used, during which time it sliould be repeatedly turn- 

 ed. The pot* tued for crowns and suckers are three 

 incho in diameter, inside measure, and 4$ deep, for 

 the smaller plant* ; 4 inches in diameter, and 6 deep, 

 tor the larger ; but it is much worse for the plant* to 

 have pot* too large than too small. Dry shiver* or 

 chip* of broken pots, or clean gravel, to the depth of an 

 are placed in the bottom of the pots. No water 

 : r a few days, till the plants shew signs of 

 * ing. '1 he principal potting i* naturally in July 

 and August, after the fruiting seasoi April, 



or a* soon a* the growing season ha* fairly TiTwntm- 

 ced, the plant* are shifted into larger pot*, 5 indies 

 in diameter within, and 7 deep. They are shaded by 

 a canvas sheet for a few days, at least during ^l ; 

 and when UM plant* begin to grow Again, water i* given 

 both at root and over the leave* with a fine rosed water- 

 ng winu-r, it may here be remarked, 

 water i* given 011)7 once a week, or even sttdomer ; 

 and it is kept for some time in the pit or stove before 

 being applied. Tu the roots of young plant*, dunghil 

 mgs are sometime* supplied. Minute rule* for 

 *< >ir are laid down by Speedily, Macphail, 



Nicol, ami Abercrombie : these should be studied by 

 the gardener; but much must still depend on hi* own 

 experience and sagacity. 



<<'... c ncituKm pil resemble* in structure the 



t. In i 1 . -. during the second autumn and 

 winter, the plant* are kept merely vegetating. If they 

 be maintained in health, it u not expected that they 

 shouM increase in sue, unless perhaps that, having 

 more room, they mav swell at bottom ; the temperature 

 therefore i* kept rather lower than in the nursing pit. 

 When plant* are ahifted into thin, which is commonly 

 when they are about a year old, the busines* should if 

 possible be completed in one pot* now used 



I'*, or 7 inches across, and 9 deep. Any injured 

 part* of the root* are carefully cut off, *nd a few of the 

 4pht or lowest leave* are renio . . 



2*C. la \btjrntitmg-knue, more roam. greaUr height, 



and at the same time a higher temperature are required. Fruit- 

 The poU here used are from 8 to 10 inches in diameter, Gawlen. 

 and 10 inches deep. In the bottom of these fruiting- < "~"v 

 pots, it is better to put half rotted grass-turf than shivers Fruiting 

 or gravel. From the time that the plants be<*in to shew l>o usc - 

 fruit, the temperature is not suffered to fall below Co 5 

 Fahr. ; it is kept generally at 75", or at least above 70" : 

 in sunshine it is allowed to rise to 85% or even 9.V 

 fresh air can thus be more freely admitted. Water is 

 given very cautiously, sufficient only to keep the pi mt> 

 healthy, but not to injure the flavour of the fruit. 1'inr- 

 apples should be cut a short time before they attain 

 complete maturity, or be dead ripe. When the fruit 

 changes colour, in most varieties when it become-; 

 greenish-yellow or straw-coloured, and when it also dif- 

 fuse* its peculiar odour to some distance, it may be con- 

 sidered as fit for cutting. 



22 1. A clearer idea of the course of culture, in the 

 nursing pit, succession pit, and fruiting-house, may per- 

 haps be obtained from the following compendious view 

 of the operations, suggested by Abercrombic, in which 

 specific days or months are assumed, merely in order 

 more distinctly to mark the anniversary or relative pe- 

 riod-. 



Niasixu PIT. 



1816. Aug. 15. Crowns or tuckrn planted. 



Wtt. 9n. 11 the pUnti, from npid growth, require more room, 

 MM an leroand to another pit, and the nuuundet ct at 



1817. Mar. 30. Such pUou as aed it, an ahifted into larger pot*. 



I Uau of tb* sun* standing an now diatributnl to hooas* 

 when the treatment dflfcn, at the plaoi u expected to 



ward as those from the bats or not of UM plant. 



NDBSIKO PIT c.<i << 



1817. Met. Plants intended to 

 complete a year in i 

 pit. an repotted; having 

 the bail of earth ihakat 

 awvjr. sad the old toot 



ffCCKMIOM PIT. 



Aug. 15. Plants that bar* 

 bata IB the ouruag pit 



tolhuhouw. 



Fatmxo House. 



1818. Aitf. li PUnu which ban 



reaMtocd ooc year in the 



anniag pit, and a wcmd 



year in the saoossalosi 



. oil, art nmOTcd to th 



181*. Aug. I. 'seek plant, ripen 



7Wycar/r<ti'ig plant*. 

 SUCCESSION PIT. 



1817. Mar. 30. Forward plm. 

 from the nuntng pit are 



May or June. 



pine* an somttimn in- 

 termediately shifted. 



MaM .Vt.ir!,:!.,; ', 



balls of earth. 



FaciTiita HOUSE. 



. Aug. 13. PUnu from Uie 

 raceewkm pit, after be- 

 taf wry <mr vow in the 



' : . 



an UHIK-.I into the lar- 

 poU, and placed 



1818. Aug. 1. Such planu afford 

 imit fit (at cutting. 



822. Sucre** in the culture of this fruit, it may be 

 remarked, very much depends on two circumstances ; 

 on giving them plenty of room in the nursery pit and 

 aaKBetaion frame, so that the lower part of die plant 

 may (well out and increase in bulk, without being 

 drawn up ; and on keeping the fruiting plant* in a con- 

 tinned healthy ur vigorou* state : for this last purpose, 

 early in the spring toe tan of the fruiting house should 

 be stirred, and a fresh quantity intermixed, so a* to 



