44 THE FLORIST AND 



CULTURE OF PINEAPPLES. 



The culture of Pineapples under glass does not seem ever to Lave attract- 

 ed much attention with us. I ses no reason why a small house might not 

 be devoted for this purpose. It is true, that at certain seasons Pineapples 

 are hawked about the streets and can be bought for a mere trifle ; but- such 

 fruit is no more like what can be produced artificially than a fox grape is like 

 a* Muscat, All American travellers in Europe agree in their opinion that 

 no fruit in Europe excels in flavor the same productions here, except the 

 Pineapple, Why should they have better Pineapples than we ? The fruit 

 brought here and sold by the ton is very far from being what it really is 

 when allowed to mature properly on the plants, as they are cut while yet 

 green, in order to insure their transportation. I propose drawing attention 

 to the subject, feeling confident that if any one tries to cultivate them, they 

 will soon raise them to greater perfection than can be done in any part of 

 Europe. 



Lengthened treatises have been written on the culture of this fruit, descri- 

 bing the various systems of propagating, potting, plunging in hotbeds of tan 

 bark, manure and leaves, removing from propagating to succession, from 

 that to the fruiting house, &c, giving ample directions for maintaining heat 

 to the roots, watering overhead, and so on, bringing forward such an array 

 of trouble and expense that it might well be concluded as u paying too dear 

 for the whistle." Of late years much improvement has attended their cul- 

 ture ; prepared beds of soil, heated by means of hot water pipes, have taken 

 the place of pots, plunged in fermenting substances ; and altogether their 

 management is so simplified that any one devoting a little attention to the 

 matter cannot fail in the production of this "king of fruits." 



The following rough sketch will convey a general idea of the arrangements 

 necessary for their growth : 



A. Boiler, E. Hough gravel about 6 in. in thick- 



B. Flow pipe for top heat, ness over pipes, 



O. Return do do F. Bed soil for plants, 



J). Bottom heat pipes, 6r. do for young do 



H. Pathway. 

 The bed F is devoted to fruiting plants ; bed G, which has no bottom heat, 

 is for raising young plants, so that whenever a vacancy occurs inF, the best 

 plant in G is carefully removed and set in its place. What is not occupied 

 with young suckers will be available for growing tomatoes, beans, rhubarb, 

 &c, in the winter season, A winter vegetable house constructed on this 

 plan, should form a prominent feature in every extensive garden. Straw- 

 berries in pots could also be raised in great perfection in such a house. 



