OF THE PINE-APPLE. 



259 



or if a hot-bed be in readiness, the crowns, after 

 having lain a few days on the flues, may be planted 

 in small pots filled with earth, and treated in the 

 same manner as will hereafter be recommended 

 for the suckers. 



As the crowns are taken off daily during the 

 Pine season, the quantity of them at one time is 

 never so considerable as to make it worth while 

 to be continually preparing hot-beds for them. 

 But that no time may be lost, the most advisable 

 method is to plant them for some time in the tan- 

 bed, where there are always vacant spaces between 

 the large plants in the fruiting pit, and there the 

 crowns will be preparing their roots against the 

 time of their potting. 



But before the crowns are planted, their lower 

 or bottom leaves should be shortened with the 

 knife or scissors, as it will cause them, when 

 planted, to decay much sooner, and make room 

 for the roots to be produced with the greater 

 ease. 



I by no means advise that the crowns stand 

 a long time in this situation, for if their roots are 

 permitted to grow to a great length in the tan, 

 (as is practised by some) they will inevitably 

 receive a check at the time they are shifted into 

 the pots, which may be prevented by potting them 

 as soon as they begin to strike, or at least by the 

 time their roots are grown to the length of one 

 or two inches ; but this cannot be ascertained so 

 well by time as by observation, much depending 



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