B R O M E L I A. 



fhould icmain till Michnelmas, and then be removed into the 

 ftove, and treated like the ananas. The peng\iin is culti- 

 vated in precifely tlie lame manner. Neither of them will 

 produce their frnit iu England, till they are three or four 

 years old. The latter being verj' fpinous makes an impe- 

 netrable hedge, and is much ufed in the Well Indies ior 

 fencing pallure lands. 



The other fpecits are cultivated only for curiofity, and 

 are raifed from feeds brought from their native country, not 

 producing any in England. 



Bcfides the varieties of the B. anurias, or pine-apple, 

 above mentioned, there are others known to gardeners, and 

 fometimes introduced into cultivation. 



The culture of the pine-apple is more difficult, and re- 

 quires a more cxatl and nice attention in its management, in 

 this climate, than that of ahnoll any other plant. It is only 

 capable of being accompliflied fo as to afford good fruit, by 

 the aflillan'.e of the lloves of the hot-houfe, with the artifi- 

 cial aid of fire beat. And in order to effett the hufinefs with 

 the greatell eafe and convenience, and in the moll perfeft man- 

 ner, belides the Hove uf the hot or fj uiting-houfe, others are 

 ncceffary for the purpolc of bringing the jjlants forward in, 

 till ready to fet out in the fruiting-Uove, which are 

 trimmed nurfery-ftoves, or pits of fuccefTive lloves. And 

 where large quantities of fuch plants are cultivated, it is alfo 

 ufeful to have what are termed bark-pits, finined either by 

 deep frames of wood or of brick work lix feet in width, with 

 fufficient length, five or fix feet deep behind, and four and 

 a half in front, having the tops gl.rzed ; for the piirpofe of 

 making hot-beds in, for the immediate reception of the 

 crowns and fuckers from the parent plants, and to prevent the 

 fuccefllon-ftove from being crowded teo much. Where the 

 whole culture of thefe plants is to be efferted in one (love 

 only, the plants mull be raifed and fruited together, by 

 which practice not one half of the fame hot-houfe can be 

 occupied at one time with fruiting plants ; bcfides, the young 

 plants are often liable to be brought forward too rapidly. 

 All thefe different (loves and nurfing pits Ihould be provided 

 with proper fires and fire-places, fo contrived as to work 

 fteadily and fave fuel as much as pofTible, as upon this the 

 expence of the culture of totfe plants in a great meafure de- 

 pends. See HoT-HousE S/ove lind Bark Pits. 



It is remarked by Mr. Nicol, that lloves for this ufe 

 are varioully conllruiled : " foine are fingle pitted, fome 

 double, and fome even triple ; fome have flues running un- 

 der, and fome round the bark-bed." Thefe he coi.fiders as 

 being very dangerous to the roots of the plants, if overheated. 

 He alfo difapproves of double and triple llovts, as being 

 vei7 uneafy to work in flormy weather, and confining a vail 

 quantity of llagnant unwholefonie air in dull hazy weather. 

 A flove in which there is a perfeft command of fire- 

 heat, and which admits a free circulation of air in all 

 parts, is to be preferred, and none are fo convenient fen- this 

 purpofe as fingle ones. The fituations for them fliould be 

 dry, and the bottoms or floors raifed above the furface 

 of the ground. The common praftice of having borders for 

 vines to be trained up the rafters, Mr. Nicol confidcrs as 

 highly prejudicial to the pine plants. 



Preparation of tie barh ifds. — The circiimftance of im- 

 portance in the culture of thefe plants, is that of forming the 

 beds in the lloves and pits. Tht.'e are differently conllituted 

 with different cultivators, and are dcfigned .for the pur- 

 pofe of plunging the pots into, with il,c plant.' in them, 

 in order to their due growth, and fupport. 'Thefe beds are 

 moflly compofcd of tanne-s' bark, as being a fubftancc that 

 not only affords the moll uniform and durable ha at, but which 

 is bed fuited to the nourifhment and growth <, 'f the plants 

 and fruit, as well 33 the moft manageable. See Ba&k beJ. 



The great artiii m.iking of thefe bed,-, i.«that of producing 

 fuch an uniform moderate bottom heat a.^ may not it:jure the 

 roots of the plant,-;, while it is fnffieient to promote their 

 regular growth. The author of the " .Scotch Forcing Gat- 

 dcner" obferves, tliat his idea of " the quantity and qua- 

 lity of bottom heat that is required by the pine," is dif- 

 ferent from that generally entertained. He never wiflies the 

 ])iants, except in llriking fuckers, to Hand in a bottom heat 

 higher than that of blood heat, and that too of a mild moill 

 nature. If the wateh fliek to the depth of the bottom of 

 the pot feels jufl a little warm to the hand, or when ap- 

 plied to the cheek, when the body is of a comfortable tem- 

 perature, it is fnffieient ; and he thinks it confillent with 

 reafon, that the bottom and fuperficial heat (hould corref- 

 pond at all times. In order more effedua'ly to attain this 

 end, and that the rt<ots may futlain noinjuiy, he has re- 

 courfe to the following rules in forming, turning, and trench- 

 ing the beds. He never hits the tan in the pit, or adds 

 above an eighth part of new, which, if neccffary, he gives 

 place to by flvimming ofl a little of the furface of the old. 

 The new tan is never fullered to lie within a foot of the 

 furface, by which means the pots are inllahtly plunged in 

 the old. He lays the half of whatever quantity of new 

 tan is added in the bottom of the trench, and divides the 

 other equally to within a foot of the furface of the beds. 

 In trenching he throws the fides to the middle, and the 

 middle to the fides, that there may be an equal mixture of 

 the old tan. Thus the beds are rendered of a mild and 

 equal temperature from the firll, and continue much the 

 fame for three or four months, and after the firll filling they 

 are attended with very little expence for new tan. It is ob- 

 vious, therefore, that, in filling the pit of a new pinery, it 

 fhould either be done federal months before the plants are 

 placed in, or the tan fhould be well fweated and walled, by 

 previous turning in an open (hed, &c. And in other cafe;, 

 it is advileablc net to plunge the pots above half their depth 

 for the firll two or three months after filling. In adding 

 new tan, it fhould invariably be thrown up in a heap for eight 

 or ten days bcfoie nfing, in order to drip and fweeten, and 

 fliould never be applied frelli from the tan yard, as it is wtt 

 and apt to heat violently, as well as cake in the beds. It is 

 remarked, that fome object to tan, as being expenfive and 

 troublefi)me in working with ; but if this method is praAifed, 

 thefe inconvenieT'ces will be inconfiderable; and as the plants 

 rcquirefiequeiit fhitting, the troubleof llirring up'the bark-beds 

 at fuch times is but triHing ; the addition of new tan being 

 fometimes imnecclfary. He is convinctd that there is no 

 ingredient which can be fubilituted for tan, that will equally 

 anlwer the purpofe iu the pinery, and of courfe recommends 

 the ufe of it in preference to all others, where it can be 

 cafily procured ; and more or lefs of it is always neceffarj'. 

 He confiders oak leaves as the next bell material, but they 

 cannot be had in many places. Where they are ufed, he 

 advifes that at leall eighteen inches of well reduced tan be 

 laid on the furface to plunge the pots in ; after thefe, a 

 mixture of liable dung and tree leaves of any kind. But 

 they fliould be well fermented before they are uled, and at 

 leafl two feet of reduced tan laid on the furface for the re- 

 ception of the plants. It is fuppofed by fome, that the rea- 

 fon of pines being planted in pots inilead of the furface of 

 the beds, is the want of permanent heat in them, as they 

 may be removed with more facility in the time of renewing 

 the bark, &c.; but Mr. Nicol has a different opinion of the 

 matter, fo that, if the heat of the beds were ever fo perma- 

 nent, he would grow them in pots. As all the different plants 

 of any kind do not grow alike in their native climates, much 

 lefs the pine in an artificial one, there is a ncceflity for hav- 

 jng, at leaft, two compartments, and growing the plants in 

 3 A 2 pots, 



