On cultivating the Pine-apple. 303 



justified competition with the sturdiest hussar in his majesty's 

 service. 



In consequence of the non-residence of some of our gentry, 

 and the idea which prevails that nothing can be good or 

 right unless it come from London or Edinburgh, there is but 

 little of this kind of work required in this or, I may say, in 

 any little country nursery : but any laying which I have had 

 to do for the last two or three years has been done in the 

 above manner ; only I have discontinued the use of small 

 stones, and substituted a more palatable morsel, namely, a 

 little decayed moss (i/ypnum),- and sometimes a small piece 

 of grafting clay. 



Upon a trial of this method of laying, propagators will find 

 less risk of breaking ; and, by not separating any part of the 

 shoot from the main body, as is the case in tongueing in the 

 ordinary way, an extensive callosity is formed, and an abun- 

 dance of fibres occasioned. 



I am, Sir, yours, &c. 

 Brechin, April 17. 18S3. James Munro. 



Art. XII. On cultivating the Pine-apple. 

 By Mr. Thomas Appleby. 



Sir, 



Agreeably to promise, I shall now endeavour to detail to 

 you the methods I adopt in cultivating the pine-apple. I hope 

 my brother gardeners will not charge me with presumption 

 in any expressions I may use. I am induced to write this ac- 

 count solely by a wish to oblige you, and a desire to be useful 

 to the younger part of them, if any thing I have to say can 

 assist them in an employment to which I feel so much attached. 

 I do not assume to have made any discovery in the culture of 

 this esteemed fruit ; but I will detail the plans I follow, and 

 the opinions I have formed. 



Unfortunately for the pines under my care, the hot-houses 

 here are not well constructed, being old and badly glazed, that 

 is, with wide overlapping ; the rafters, also, are very heavy 

 and broad, intercepting a great deal of light : besides, we grow 

 here a vine trained up each rafter. These circumstances 

 combined are by no means favourable to the growth of the 

 pine-apple. 



To grow this exotic to perfection, it is necessary to protect 

 it from the severity of the climate all the year ; and that mode 

 of protection is best which admits the greatest quantity of light. 



