544 On the Cultivation of the Pine Apple. 



with it, and consequently become able to regulate its powers. 

 I still feel that I have much to learn in the management of 

 my machinery, though I possess more than sufficient evidence 

 to enable me to assert with confidence, that, in the culture of 

 the Pine Apple, the bark-bed, or other hot-bed, if the plants 

 be plunged into it, is worse than useless, after the scions, or 

 crowns, have emitted roots ; and that the Pine Apple, when 

 treated in the manner I have recommended, is a fruit of most 

 extremely easy culture. 



It is contended, in favour of the bark-bed, that the soil in 

 inter-tropical climates is warm, and that the bark-bed does 

 no more than nature does in the native climate of the Pine 

 Apple* And if the bark-bed could be made to give a steady 

 temperature of about ten degrees below that of the day tem- 

 perature of the air in the stove, I readily admit that Pine 

 plants would thrive better in a compost of that temperature, 

 than in a colder. But the temperature of the bark-bed is 

 constantly subject to excess, and defect, and I contend, and 

 can prove, that the above-mentioned temperature is very 

 nearly given in my stove. For the temperature of the day 

 being about 90° or 95°, and that of the night 70°, the mould 

 in the pots will necessarily acquire nearly the intermediate 

 temperature of 80°. It is true, that two disturbing causes are 

 in action ; the evaporation from the mould, and porous sur- 

 face of the pots, and the radiant heat of the sun. But these 

 causes operate in opposition to each other, and probably 

 nearly negative the operation of each other, as far as re- 

 spects the temperature of the mould in the pots. 



* See Mean's edition of Abercrombie's Practical Gardener, page 609. 



