188 FRUIT. 



size, handsome appearance, and excellent quality, makes it a 

 favourite with all growers for competition. Next in popular 

 favour is the Queen, which, when well grown and in its best 

 condition, is a first-class fruit of the finest flavour and quality. 

 After these a number of varieties are held in much the same 

 esteem by competitors. For quality and richness of flavour, 

 Black Jamaica still stands unrivalled ; but as it seldom exceeds 

 three pounds in weight in well-grown fruits, with neat small 

 crowns, it is liable to be passed as undersized when exhibited 

 in competition with large and well-finished specimens of other 

 kinds of fair quality. One of the best of those latter is Char- 

 lotte Rothschild, a fruit very similar in all respects to the 

 Smooth Cayenne, except that it has spines on the edges of its 

 leaves, and on their merits the Smooth Cayenne is the most 

 useful. Among othei's seen most frequently at exhibitions 

 are Black Prince and Lord Carrington, two easily grown and 

 fertile varieties, the first being a very tali conical fruit, re- 

 quiring a high temperature and bright sunshine to ripen it all 

 at the same time. Lord Carrington is also a conical fruit, and 

 when at its best it makes a handsome specimen, although 

 neither it nor Black Prince are to be compared in fine qualities 

 to the four previously named varieties. When size alone is the 

 desired object, a fully developed Providence Pine generally 

 beats all competitors, and for this purpose it must be grown 

 with the greatest possible vigour on a thoroughly matured 

 plant to produce a fruit of the largest size and finest build. 

 It takes two years or more to grow a proper plant that can be 

 relied upon to give a fine fruit, anil it must be carefully tended 

 throughout to ensure success. Beyond its gigantic propor- 

 tions the Providence has very little to recommend it, even at 

 its best. 



In the culture of the Pine-Apple a comparatively small 

 amount of labour and attention is required, so long as they are 

 civen at the proper time, and all appliances are suitable and 

 adequate. A hip-roofed house makes the best pine-stove, so 

 constructed that the plants are close to the glass when full 

 crown. The heating appliances must be ample for the work, 

 to supply with ease the top and bottom heat in all states of 



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