IN THE CULTURE OF PINE-APPLES. 



139 



number and size of the fruit and in the time required to bring 

 it to maturity. Wherever gardeners are obliged to depend upon 

 the bark bed and pot culture — whatever their skill and industry 

 may be — their success must always be uncertain and variable. 

 It is quite impossible to judge, with any degree of certainty, 

 when a pine-plant in a pot, and plunged in a bark bed, requires 

 a greater or less quantity of water, or to prevent the bark from 

 attaining extremes of heat or cold ; and I am doubtful whether, 

 under these circumstances, the improvement of pine-culture, if 

 continued in this way, will ever advance much further than it 

 has already done, as the great uncertainty attending all the 

 operations will ever present obstacles beyond the control of the 

 gardener. Happily the introduction of the tank system of bot- 

 tom heating will, it is hoped, entirely banish bark beds and pots : 

 it opens up at the same time an entirely new field for experiment, 

 and certain success in improving the growth and size of the 

 fruit, besides considerably shortening the time required for 

 bringing the plant to maturity. 



The great advantages of the tank system for the growth of 

 the pine-apple, or any other fruit or vegetable for which bottom 

 heat is necessary, are so apparent, and the apparatus so simple, 

 economical, and effective, that it is well deserving the special 

 attention of every proprietor of gardens. The difference betwixt 

 this and the old system may not inaptly be compared to the 

 (now) old plan of travelling by stage-coach and the modern one 

 by railway. The first cost of materials will in a very short time 

 be repaid, both by the saving of labour and the increase of pro- 

 duce, besides relieving the gardener of endless care and anxiety, 

 more especially from the trammels of repeated shiftings, plung- 

 ing of pots, turning back, and all other attendant troubles and 

 expenses of the old method. When a bed is properly prepared 

 on tank heat, and planted with the requisite number of plants, 

 all labour and trouble with them may be said, comparatively 

 speaking, to be at an end, the only requirement being to attend 

 to the fire and to give air. With respect to water, I find that 

 very little is required, with the exception of syringing or sprink- 

 ling with the rose of a watering-pot. The soil is not apt to 

 become dry at the bottom, as has been apprehended by some ; 

 I find bark that has been lying on the tanks for six months, in 

 which pots were plunged, to be quite moist down to the rubble, 

 after lying that time without being watered. 



Where a regular succession of fruit is required through the 

 whole year, Mr. Hamilton's system answers the purpose perfectly. 

 The Montserrat will be found to be the most useful sort for this 

 purpose, as the fruit attains a good size and flavour in winter, 



