146 THE FRUIT GARDEN 



parent plant. This system, so well adapted to its culture in tropical countries, 

 was, as might be expected, found to be entirely unsuitable under artificial con- 

 ditions such as prevail in British gardens, and so the method was soon discarded. 

 Pot Culture. — I mentioned before that the planting-out system was 

 better adapted for the successful culture of the larger varieties, such as Charlotte 

 Rothschild and Smooth Cayenne, than for the Queen. I gave the Queen 

 variety a good trial in this way, but the results were not such as to encourage 

 me to continue to do so. The restricted root space of the pot evidently 

 suited the requirements of the Queen variety better than did the border. 

 I will now return to my reference to the treatment of the sucker when 

 ready for potting in the month of May. Assuming that the soil was 

 properly mixed some days previously, and the pots are ready, the first thing 

 to do is to cover the crocks with the roughest part of the fibrous material 

 of the potting soil, and upon this place the compost loosely until it is 

 above the sides of the pot. Press the suckers into the soil about 3 inches 

 below the pot rim, and afterwards make the soil quite firm by ramming. I 

 have not recommended any organic manure to be mixed with the soil ; no 

 medium is better than fresh, fibrous soil. The suckers must next be plunged 

 into the material of the propagating pit. A lean-to pit is suitable, and it should 

 have a bed deep enough to hold from 4 to 5 feet of litter and leaves, with a 

 bottom heat of at least 85 or 90 degs. at first. The atmospheric tem- 

 perature in the day-time without sun-heat should be from 70 to 75 degs. 

 The temperature of the manure and leaves in which the plants are plunged 

 will gradually decrease as decomposition takes place, so that when roots have 

 been emitted, say in three weeks' time, it will have cooled down to about 

 73 degs., and this is the heat to promote root action. I have found it an 

 advantage to plunge the potted suckers closely together, allowing them 

 to remain so for the first month or six weeks. In this way they are 

 easily kept moist. If the soil is moderately moist when the suckers are 

 potted, no water should be given for at least a fortnight. For the first 

 fortnight heavy shade must be given, and the plants slightly syringed with 

 tepid water several times during the day. On fine sunny afternoons close the 

 pit early, after previously syringing. As the sun declines so will the heat of 

 the pit, until the thermometer registers 70 degs., at which it should be kept 

 during the night for the next two months, that is, until the end of October. 

 At the end of a month after the sucker has been potted it will be found that 

 roots have been freely produced, and I would advise that the plants be moved 

 and replunged in the pit and in the same material, but considerably wider 

 apart. It must be remembered that the young plants are now starting on their 

 own account, as it were ; previously they had existed on their parent. They 

 must be given plenty of room through the subsequent stages of growth, as if 

 crowded, it is hopeless and unreasonable to expect the best results. Heavy 

 shade must be discontinued after the first three weeks, substituting shading of 

 a lighter nature ; by the middle of September it should be left off altogether. 

 The treatment to be observed during the winter months is very simple. By 

 the end of November the pots will have become full of healthy young roots. 



