10 



Report upon the Varieties of Pine- Apple, 



8. Striped Smooth-leaved Sugar-loaf Pine. 

 Syn. Smooth Striped-leaved Sugar-loaf. NicoFs Gardeners 

 Kal 4th Ed. p. 304. Hort. Soc. Cat. No. 89. 

 Smooth-leaved Sugar-loaf. Hort. Soc. Cat. No. 87. 



Readily known by its leaves, which are entirely destitute of spines, and striped with 

 dull purple. The Flowers are very pale lilac. The Fruit is of the same form and ap- 

 pearance as the other varieties of Sugar-loaf. Flesh deep yellow, remarkably soft, with 

 scarcely any fibre or acidity, a little sweet but neither rich nor juicy. Crown middle- 

 sized, leaves very numerous. 



This extremely worthless variety originated sometime previous 

 to the publication of Speechly's Treatise, and seems now to be 

 almost lost in the country. 



9. White Providence Pine. 

 Syn, Providence. Speechly, 2nd Ed. p. 7. 



New Providence. Nicol's Gard. Kal. 4th Ed. p. 304. 

 White Providence. 



Mealy-leaved Providence. J Hort Soc ' CaL No * 57 • 

 Ananas Providentia, of the French. 



Leaves large, long, broad and spreading, of a light bluish green colour, sometimes 

 blotched with a deeper shade and very mealy ; spines very small, thickly set and rather 

 irregular. Flowers large, dark purple. Fruit oval or tun-shaped,* nearly equal in 

 size at top and bottom, very dark green or purple, and thickly covered with meal, on 

 approaching maturity gradually changing to a reddish yellow. Pips very large and 

 nearly flat, sometimes a little depressed in the centre. Scales covering nearly half the 

 pips, and terminating in shortened blunt points. Flesh white, opaque, sweet and juicy 

 without much flavour, slightly stringy and rather soft and melting. Crown large, leaves 

 numerous and rather spreading. 



Some very large fruit of this kind have been grown in various 

 parts of the country, particularly at Ragley by Mr. Baldwin, at 

 Stackpole Court by Mr. Buchan, at Shugborough by Mr. M c Mur- 

 trie, and at Rheola Vale, Neath, Glamorganshire, by Mr. Dixon, 



* Speedily says it is " inclining to a pyramidical form," however, the specimens which 

 I have had an opportunity of examining, are invariably of the form above described. 



