OF THE PINE-APPLE. 



281 



2. Three wheelbarrows of swarth 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 fre- 

 quently go into fruit the first season, (and are then 

 what gardeners term runners ); on the contrary, 

 where plants are put in a strong rich soil, they 

 will continue to grow, and not fruit even at a 

 proper season : therefore, from the nature of the 

 soil from whence the swarth was taken, the quan- 

 tity of sand used must be proportioned; when 

 the loam is not strong, sand will be unnecessary 

 in the compost for young plants. 



I conceive that the urine of sheep contains a 

 greater quantity of mucilage, or oleaginous matter, 

 than the dung of those animals : and this opinion 

 is founded upon observations made in sheep 

 pastures, where, during the summer months, the 

 effects of both are easily distinguished. I also 

 presume that the reduced swarth in the pens 

 receives a very considerable degree of fertility 

 from the feet of the sheep. 



Where oak -leaves are not used in hot-houses, 

 the vegetable mould may be made by laying a 

 quantity of them together, in a heap sufficiently 



