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HOCKINGS'' GARDEN MANUAL. 



complied with. The soil may be damp, but never wet ; 

 no water should at any time stand in the soil. It should 

 be trenched to the depth of two feet six inches (leaving 

 any inferior soil at the bottom), and well manured, 

 unless naturally very rich. Drains should be put in 

 six inches deeper than it is trenched, unless the sobsoil 

 is so porous as to render it unnecessary, which should 

 be proved by the test previously given. 



Planting, &c. : Pine suckers may be planted any 

 time during spring and summer, in rows six feet apart, 

 the plants being four feet apart in the rows. It is of 

 great importance that the plant receives no check to 

 its growth after it is once rooted. In winter, wherever 

 there is any risk of frost, a good handful of long grass 

 should be placed close into the heart of each plant, 

 and a little more scattered loosely over the leaves. 

 There should also be a provision for watering in hot, 

 dry weather, with liquid manure. The ground must 

 be kept clean, and a good annual top-dressing of manure 

 be given. 



Gathering : This fruit should never be gathered for 

 exportation until the channels between the pips, for a 

 distance half-way up from the stem, be turned yellow, 

 or a yellowish green. For immediate use, let them be 

 taken when the whole fruit is of a pale yellow, directly 

 all the green has disappeared. If left longer, they 

 become very juicy, the flesh a dark yellow, the delicacy 

 of flavor is gone, and a slightly stinging or pricking 

 sensation may be observed in the month, which arises 

 from fermentation having commenced. 



Pine -apple wine. 



The following is stated to make a rich, strong wine, 

 which keeps well : — Take freshly gathered pine-apples, 

 which are quite ripe ; press the juice from them, strain 

 it carefully, and mix sugar with it until it will support 

 an egg • boil the whole gently for fifteen minutes, 



