13 



their fruit than those of the latter will perfect their 

 Wf or head. (Loudon on Pine Apple, 146.) 



The only other country in Europe where the pine 

 apple has been spiritedly cultivated is France. 



The establishment of Versailles is the largest in 

 France, but that of Meudon is also remarkable for 

 excellent culture, and the high state of perfection to 

 which this fruit is brought. This is one of the King's 

 private establishments • the Chateau is never occupied 

 by the Royal family, and M. Pel villain, the chief 

 gardener, is allowed the kitchen garden on his own 

 account. The pine is his hobby, and he spares no 

 trouble or expense in bringing it to perfection ; so 

 ardent is his desire to obtain information, that he is 

 learning the English language for the express purpose 

 of reading our treatises and visiting our country, that 

 he may be able to judge for himself of the advantages 

 or defects of the different modes of treatment. He 

 uses peat, and also adopts the open ground culture ; 

 and certainly it would be difficult to find plants more 

 vigorous, or finer fruit at Christmas, than he pro- 

 duces ; it is no unusual thing to see in his houses 

 Providence, Cajenne, and Enville Pines, weighing 

 from 81bs. tc lOlbs. The Queens, however, are not 

 large, certainly not more than from 21bs. or 3lbs. on 

 the average ; these last he grows principally in pots for 

 the market. The confectioners of Paris seldom buy 

 the larger kinds, they prefer a middle-sized Queen to 



