404 Pine-apple Conservatory. 



obliged to be kept too close for them, they suffer from want of air, 

 for, even during slight frost, heaths should be permitted to have 

 plenty of air, as they like to feel the wind between every leaf. 



Towards the latter end of the summer, heaths are often very 

 much affected by a kind of fungus, which spreads itself over 

 their stems and leaves, and finally kills them. This fungus 

 increases with such amazing rapidity, that one diseased plant 

 will affect a hundred in the course of one week, if not instantly 

 removed. The best cure, and I believe the only cure, is to wet 

 the leaves of the plants affected, and immediately afterwards 

 powder sulphur vivum thickly over them, letting it remain on for 

 a few days, after which it may be washed off, and the plant re- 

 placed in the frame. 



London, June 1. 1839. 



Art. VII. A Pine-apple Conservatory. By Alexander Forsyth. 



I am perfectly certain, that, if the culture of pines, planted out 

 in a stratum of rich mould on a gentle bottom heat, were more 

 generally understood, it could not fail to be generally practised. 

 If you ask the opinions of practical men on that point, they will 

 be almost unanimous in saying, " We have no doubt that pines 

 planted out produce heavier and more perfect fruit than those 

 cramped in pots ; but, since we can have no control on their 

 coming into fruit, when once they are established in luxurious 

 liberty, we prefer growing them in pots." It will therefore be 

 allowed, that if they could be controlled, so as to show fruit 

 immediately after they have attained proper size, and got their 

 roots well established in the border, the great desideratum would 

 be gained, and prize-fruit growers would find this the surest 

 system to surpass the pot-bound productions of their rival bre- 

 thren. Now, having seen various systems adopted, in order to 

 induce pine plants to show fruit, or, in other words, to arrive 

 at maturity, I think they all may be reduced to two, either 

 patiently and perseveringly aiding and encouraging the plants 

 by kindness till they arrive at that maturity where nature seeks 

 no further; or else, by unnatural strides of starvation and ex- 

 citement, producing partial decay, and premature fructification 

 at the proper cost, namely, a deficiency in the fruits, both in 

 weight and flavour. 



Having been placed lately under rather peculiar circumstances 

 with a stock of pine plants, after milder means had failed to 

 excite their risible qualities, I resolved to get them up (that 

 is into fruit) at all hazards. They were in number about 

 30, and the greatest part of them not less than three years 

 old, when I planted them out in a stratum of turfy loam and 

 leaf soil, on a bed of leaves, at the hottest end of a fruiting 



