THE PINE-APPLE. 



149 



Blight departme from, the lines laid do-wn is open to 

 the cultivator, provided he has the command of a 

 Hght span-roofed pit like the engraving (Fig. 5), in 

 which the plants can he kept steadily growing under 

 the influence of a day and night temperature slightly 

 in excess of that recommended for the ordinary stock 

 of suckers. In a pit of this kind the plants wiU. 

 have the henefit of every ray of light and sunshine 

 throughout the winter months, moisture can he given 

 in moderation, and the increase in the day and night 

 temperature, instead of heing hound hy any hard and 

 fast line through aU weathers, wiU naturally take 

 place when the sky is hright, and the external atmo- 

 sphere is mild. In the selection of suckers for this 

 purpose, the strongest of the Queens are to he pre- 

 ferred, as they grow freely and quickly into a fruit- 

 ing condition. But unless 

 the suitahle convenience 

 is at command, not only 

 for growing the plants 

 through the winter, hut 

 also for resting them in 

 May, this attempt to steal 

 a march wiU he hest left 

 alone, as 1!here is great 

 danger of getting the 

 plants drawn into a soft 

 weakly growth, a con- 

 dition which will most 

 certainly defeat the oh- 

 ject held in view, namely, 



the production of ripe fruit in little over twelve 

 months after the rootless suckers have heen potted. 



SucceBsion Plants. — If all has gone on well, 

 the plants which little more than five months ago 

 were rootless suckers, will now he considered Succes- 

 sion Plants, a term hy which they are usually distin- 

 guished from fruiters, and it is of these that we are 

 now ahout to treat. 



About the end of January, or early in February, 

 the September-potted suckers wUl have filled their 

 pots with roots ; but, owing to the unusual size of 

 the pots which were used, and the possibility of a 

 protracted period of rough weather, there will yet 

 remain some two or three weeks, which will be quite 

 as well devoted to the gentle excitement of the roots, 

 and the necessary preparations for potting. The 

 experienced Pine-grower can tell at a glance when 

 the plants are ready for the final shift into fruiting- 

 pots, but the uninitiated wiU do well to make a 

 careful examination of a few of the most promising, 

 and if the roots are not sufficiently numerous to keep 

 the ball well together, the operation of shifting 

 should he deferred untU they are in a satisfactory 

 condition. In order to accelerate this process, an . 



Fig. 5.— Span-koofed Pit. 



AA, Plungmg-bed ; bb, drainage ; cc, ventilators ; d, pas- 

 sage ; ee, hot-air cliajnbers i oo^ pipes. 



early start being important, the top and bottom heats 

 may be gradually raised ahout 5° higher than was 

 recommended for the preceding three months ; atmo- 

 spheric moisture may also be slightly increased, and, 

 if needful, a little warm water at a temperature of 80° 

 may be applied to the roots. Under this treatment, 

 with the temperature ranging from 60° at night to 

 70" hy day, the white, healthy roots wUl soon begin 

 to push, and the best possible condition for potting 

 will have heen secured. If, on the other hand, any of 

 the plants have become pot-bound, the balls should 

 be gently pressed with the hands until the roots can 

 he disentangled, &s matted balls are apt to become 

 dry, and the roots, having pursued a spiral direction, 

 do not take so freely to the new compost. Moreover, 

 the watering of newly-potted plants in February 

 being undesirable, neglect 

 of this simple preliminary 

 operation may result in 

 some of the strongest and 

 best plants starting pre- 

 maturely into fruit. With 

 these hints for his guid- 

 ance the intelligent ama- 

 teur will ever be on the 

 watch, not only for the 

 suitahle condition of his 

 plants, but also for a mild, 

 favourable period for the 

 performance of the work. 



Preparations for Potting. — ^Whenitishome 

 in mind that the plants now under treatment will 

 occupy the pots to which they are about to he trans- 

 ferred until they have ripened off their fruit, and 

 matured one or two suckers, it will he obvious that 

 this is one of the most important operations, and, as 

 such, should receive the greatest attention in all its 

 details. Some ten days before the time for shifting 

 arrives every plant should be examined, and watered 

 sufficiently to bring every particle of the soil into a 

 healthy growing state, and a little more air should 

 be given to prevent the excitement applied to the 

 roots from affecting the leaves prior to the removal 

 to the potting-bench. During the few days which 

 will intervene the necessary preliminaries in the 

 potting-ahed must be proceeded with, so that every- 

 thing may be ready at hand when a suitable day for 

 potting arrives. Having thoroughly cleansed the 

 pots inside and out, let them be crocked with the 

 same materials and care as was recommended for 

 suckers, using the lower stratum of crocks, also well 

 washed, a little coarser, and finishing off with finer 

 particles quite free from dust. 



Size of Pots. — The she of the pots may vary 



