342 FORCING GARDEN, 
of some species of aloe. The fruit grown in Britain is 
considered equal in all good qualities, and generally supe: 
rior in size, to that: reared in tropical countries. «The 
Lond. Hortic. Catalogue enumerates 56 varieties : of these 
the following'may be deemed most worthy of notice. '' 
The Queen Pine is very ‘generally cultivated, : Its fruit 
is of a cylindrical ior tankard shape; of a yellowish color 
inclining to orange,ahd sometimes weighs three pounds; it 
is, at the same.time, of fine flavor... This kind producés 
with greater certainty than most others, and the fruit may be 
easily: ripened in fifteen or eighteen months from the plants 
ing of the crown or offset. It is therefore the most useful 
of all the pines:: A sub-variety called i sca 
also excellent.) .. .. 
The Black Antigua has leaves se with large spines: 
the flowers are purple ; the fruit cylindrical, averaging five 
pounds weight. lt should be om a little before it be quite 
ripe. oe ‘ a ari 
The Black Jamaica, or * Old Famatons —In this variety 
the spines on’ the leayes are small';’ the flowers purple ; the 
fruit oblong, averaging about four pounds. This is an ex- 
cellent kind, and is considered. the best: sort: for ene 
during the winter months. aye 
The New Jamaica is rather an intarie kind, but is pret 
ty good when ripened in the'summer time. — |, 
The Brown-leaved Sugar-loaf is a capital. black va+ 
riety ;. and the ville a showy and useful pine, with large 
flat pips, and the fruit often attaining a considerable size. 
The St. Vincent's, or, as it is sometimes called, the 
Green Olive, has: middle-sized spines, purple flowers, and 
pyramidal fruit, which average about two pounds and a 
half. It succeeds well as a winter fruit. 
The White Providence has small spines, dark purple 
