THE PINE- APPLE. 33 



start pines into fruit at any given time, and more espe- 

 cially very early in the year, it is necessary to their 

 doing so satisfactorily, that they have a period of rest 

 previous to their being subjected to the treatment re- 

 quired to start them. Such as have completed their 

 growth as I have described early in the season, can have 

 from ten to twelve weeks' rest, and be started in time 

 to ripen their fruit in the end of May and June. From 

 the beginning or middle of October, onwards to the end 

 of December, it rarely occurs that pines intended to start 

 thus early are the better for a drop of water, when grown 

 on a bed of fermenting material. And when the bot- 

 tom-heat is supplied with pipes, it is much the safer 

 way to keep the plunging material moderately moist 

 than to water the pines often. 



The night temperature should drop gradually to 60° 

 by the middle of October. In November, and until the 

 time they are to be started, I prefer the temperature at 

 55° at night during cold windy weather, and 60° when 

 mild. The bottom-heat should be proportionately low, 

 just enough to maintain the roots in a white healthy 

 condition, and 75° is quite enough for that. When with 

 sun-heat during the day, which may occur during clear 

 frosty weather, the temperature exceeds 65°, air should 

 be given. With such weather as this it is sometimes 

 necessary to fire sharply at night to keep up the required 

 temperature ; in which case the fires should be checked 

 the first thing in the morning, especially when a cold 

 night is succeeded by a bright day. Where it can be so 

 arranged that covering can be used over the glass during 

 cold weather, it prevents radiation, and the atmosphere 

 can be kept in a condition much more congenial to pines 

 than when more fire-heat is necessary. For although a, 



c 



