514 



PRACTICE OF GARDENING. 



Paht III. 



Sect. I. Culture of the Pinery. 

 2691. The pine-apple is a native of the tropical regions of Asia, Africa, and South 

 America ; and thus, from its original habitation and nature, it requires a higher degree of 

 heat than any culinary or fruit-bearing plant at present cultivated as such. It is by no 

 means, however, so delicate as many imagine ; for as it v^nll bear a higher degree of heat 

 continued for a length of time than either the vine or tlie peach, so, at any period of its 

 growth, it will bear, without injury, a degree of cold for a space of time v/hich, though 

 short, would have destroyed the foliage of a vine or peach-tree in a state of vegetation. 

 " This incomparable fruit," Weeks observes, " can be obtained even in frames without 

 fire-heat, having only the assistance of tan and dung ; and is more easily brought to ma- 

 turity than an early cucumber." Though liable to the attacks of insects, it is less so than 

 the peach, and less speedily injured by them than the common cabbage. Diseases it has 

 almost none. The pine is generally grown in pots, and plunged in a bed of tanner's bark, 

 or other matter in a state of feraaentation ; recently, however, it has been grown without 

 bottom heat, and even with a lower atmospherical temperature than it has been accustomed 

 to receive, at least, during winter; but as the experience of gardeners is very limited on 

 this mode of treatment, we shall reserve whatever we have to offer on it, till we have 

 brought into view the established practices. The fruit being reckoned the most delicious 

 of all others, and gardeneirs being valued by the wealtliy in proportion to their success in 

 its cultivation, we shall here lay before the reader a copious view of the present modes of 

 culture, from the works of the most reputable practical men who have written on the 

 subject ; noticing also, occasionally, the practices of those w ho grow them for the London 

 market. 



SuBSECT. 1 . Varieties of the Pine mid General Mode of Culture. 

 2698. The most esteemed varieties of the pine-apple for general cultivation are, accord- 

 ing to Speechly, the following, here arranged in the order of their merits : — 



The queen pine I Pw-idence [Sugar-loaf I Havannah ' I Silver striped 



Brown antigua S.Vincent's, or Montserrat I Ripley Gold striped 



Antigua queen | , green olive | Black Jamaica ' 1 King | Striped queen. 



According to Abercrombie, they are the following : — 



Queen I Prickly striped sugar-loaf I Havannah I Black Jamaica. 



Brown sugar-loaf | Silver striped | Black Antigua | 



M'Phail says, the pines most worthy of cultivation are — 



The black Antigua | Ripley | Black Jamaica ; and | Montserrat. 



Nicol States, the kinds most generally cultivated in hot-houses to be — 



The king I Black Antigua I Prickly striped sugar-loaf | Montserrat | Havaimah ; and 



The queen | Brown sugar-loaf | Smooth striped sugar-loaf | Silver striped | New Providence. 



Griffin recommends — 



J The oval, or queen | Pyramidal, or sugar-loaf ; and | New white Providence. , 



Baldwin^ for expeditious forcing, on which alone he treats, recommends — 



The old queen ; and | Ripley's new queen. 



S2699. Plan of culture. As the.pine-plant is a triennial, bearing fruit once only, unlike the peach and 

 vine, and other fruit-bearing plants, its propagation, rearing, and fruiting are necessarily all carried on 

 in every garden where it is cultivated. Its culture generally commences in a common hot-bed frame, heated 

 by dung; at the end of a period varying from six to nine months, it is removed to a larger framed hot- 

 bed, or pit, generally called a succession bed or house; and after remaining there from eight to twelve 

 months, according to circumstances, it is removed to its final destination, the fruiting bed, pit, or house. 

 Here it shows its fruit, continues in a growing state during a period varying from six to twelve months, 

 according to the variety grown, mode of culture, &c. ; and finally ripens its fruit and dies, leaving the 

 crown or terminal shoot of the flruit, and one or more suckers or side-shoots as successors. The produc- 

 tion of a single pine-apple, therefore, requires a course of exotic culture, varying from eighteen months to 

 three years, and generally not less" than two years. 



SuBSECT. 2. Soil. 



2700. The pine-apple soil of Speechly is as follows : " In the month of April or May, let the sward or 



turf of a pasture, where the soil is a strong rich loam, and of a reddish color, be pared off, not more than 

 two inches thick : let it then be carried to the pens in sheep-pastures, where sheep are frequently put for the 

 purpose of dressing, which places should be cleared of stones, &c. and made smooth ; then let the turf be 

 laid with the grass side downwards, and only one course thick; here it may continue two, three, or more 

 months, during which time it should be turned with a spade once or twice, according as the i>en is more 

 or less frequented by the above animals, who, with their urine and dung, will enrich the turf to a great 

 degree, and their feet will reduce it, and prevent any weeds from growing. After the turf has lain a suf- 

 ficient time, it should be brought to a convenient place, and laid in a heap for at least six months (if a 

 twelvemonth it will be the better), being frequently turned during that time ; and after being made pretty 

 fine with the spade, but not screened, it will be fit for use. In places where the abo^^e motle cannot be 

 adopted, the mixture made by putting a quantity of sheep's dung (or deer's dung, if it can be got) and turf 

 together. But here it must be observed, that the dung should be collected from the pastures when newly 

 fallen ; also, that a larger proportion should be added, making an allowance for the want of urine. 1. Three 

 wheelbarrows of the above reduced sward or soil, one barrow of vegetable mould from decayed oak-leaves, 

 and half a barrow of coarse sand make a compost-mould for crowns, suckers, and voung plants ; 

 2, Three wheelbarrows of sward reduced as above, two barrows of vegetable mould, one barrow of coarse 

 sand, and one fourth of a barrow of soot, make a compost-mould for fruiting plants. The above composts 

 should be made some months before they are wanted, and very frequently turned during that time, 

 that the different mixtures may get well and uniformly incorporated. It is observable, that in hot- 

 houses, where pine-plants are put in a light soil, the young plants frequently go into fruit the first season 



