HANDY BOOK 



FRUIT CULTUEE UNDER GLASS. 



THE PINE-APPLE. 



This nolDle fruit lias derived the name of pine-apple 

 from its striking resemblance in shape to the cones of 

 some of the pine-trees. It is probably the most rich 

 and luscious of fruits. "Three hundred years ago it 

 was described by Jean de Levy, a Huguenot priest, as 

 being of such excellence that the gods might luxuriate 

 upon it, and that it should only be gathered by the 

 hands of a Venus." 



Some say that it is a native of Brazil, and found its 

 way from that country to the East. It is, however, not 

 very clearly determined to what part of the world we 

 are indebted for the pine-apple; and there is little doubt 

 that it is also a native of the West Indies, for many of 

 its varieties are found growing wild on the continent 

 and islands of the West. It was first brought into 

 Europe by a Dutch merchant, and introduced into this 

 country from Holland in 1 6 9 ; and first cultivated for 

 the dessert by Mr Bentinck, ancestor to the present 

 ducal family of Portland. 



