186 Four Pines on the same Plant in Four Years. 



exuberant wood induced by permitting shoots, either inten- 

 tionally or through neglect, to follow their natural disposition to 

 grow up into stems whenever they can avail themselves of a 

 favourable, that is an upright, position for appropriating an 

 abundant supply of sap. 



Art. XIV. On a Method of producing Four Pine-apples on the 

 same Plant in Four successive Years. By George Dale, Gardener 

 at Brancepeth Castle. 



[In consequence of an extract from a letter of Mr. Dale's, printed in p. 41., 

 we have been written to on the subject for farther details. We sent the letter 

 to Mr. Dale, and below is an extract from his answer.] 



I should have answered yours before this, but I had to send 

 to Newcastle for a copy of the Horticultural Reports for 1830. 

 The part I referred to in my last I enclose for your inspection. 



" At the meeting at Durham, in July, 1830, some very fine and large arti- 

 chokes were exhibited by Mr.Frushard, from the garden of the Durham prison. 

 The pine-apple (Black Antigua) exhibited at this meeting for competition, 

 and for which the Society's gold medal was awarded, was from the garden of 

 R. E. D. Shaftoe, Esq., of Whitworth, the fourth fruit produced from the same 

 plant in four successive years ; the weight of the fruits being as follows, viz. : 

 In May, 1827, 5 lb. ; September, 1828, 5 lb. 7 oz. ; August, 1829, 41b. 15 oz. ; 

 July, 1830, 5 lb. This pine was grown by Mr. John Robson, a pupil of the 

 justly celebrated pine-grower, Mr. George Dale, gardener to William Russel, 

 Esq., of Brancepeth Castle. 



" At a district meeting of the Society, held at the Queen's Head Inn, Durham, 

 in July, 1830, the following prize medals were awarded: — 



" For the best-flavoured pine-apple (Black Antigua), the gold medal to 

 Mr. John Robson, gardener to R. E. D. Shaftoe, Esq., Whitworth. 



" For the best dish of strawberries, the silver medal to Mr. John Avery, 

 gardener to W. T. Salvin, Esq., Croxdale. 



" For the best dish of cherries (the Elton), the silver medal to Mr. George 

 Dale, gardener to William Russel, Esq., Brancepeth Castle." 



I shall endeavour to inform you of the manner I would treat 

 those plants Mr. Loynes names. Supposing the first fruit cut, 

 and the suckers and the old plant going on in a vigorous grow- 

 ing state, I would reduce the suckers to one or two, according 

 to the appearance of the plant's health. Should the roots of the 

 plant have become much matted, pull off a few of the bottom 

 leaves, to allow the plant to make fresh roots into a top-dressing 

 of rich compost, allowing the plant a moderate moist bark heat 

 and moist atmosphere, and keeping it as near the glass as possible. 

 Give the plants, if free rooters, a lair portion of water ; and, 

 should the soil get much exhausted, give liquid manure occa- 

 sionally, allowing the plant and sucker or suckers to grow on 

 until the sucker or suckers are strong enough to produce a good 

 fruit. Then, the plant being tied up, turn it carefully out of the 

 pot with a sharp-ended prong : take from the bottom and sides 





