332 



PINE APPLE. 



SECT. XX. 



OP THE PINE APPLE, 



The early history of the introduction of the pine 

 apple (ananassa saliva of botanists) into this country 

 has been so often before the public, that it is unne- 

 cessaiy to go into any minute detail on this branch 

 of the subject. Suffice it to observe, that the first 

 plants cultivated in England were received from Hol- 

 land ; but whether first fruited in the royal gardens 

 of the first or second Charles, in those of William 

 and Mary, or in that of Sir Matthew Decker, of 

 Richmond, is not clearly ascertained. There is no 

 doubt, however, that, during the reign of William 

 and Mary, many plants were received and distri- 

 buted in this country, chiefly through the exertions 

 of M, Bentinck, the progenitor and founder of the 

 noble family of Portland. 



The first houses built for the reception and culture 

 of pines, were on the Dutch principle ; viz, low close 

 pits, warmed by smoke flues, and a bed of some 

 fermenting material to place the pots containing the 

 plants in. In the course of time, and as a better 

 knowledge of the nature of the plant was acquired, 

 houses of more ample dimensions, and far more com- 

 modious than low pits, were erected ; and the cul- 

 ture of the pine apple soon took a systematic turn, 

 and became a distinct branch of British horti- 

 culture. 



