410 On the Cultivation of the Pine Apple. 



The effects of a very dry atmosphere necessarily were an 

 inspissated state of the sap of the plant, and this, as it does 

 in all other similar cases > led to the formation of blossom 

 buds and of fruit ; and it thus operated upon some Pine 

 Apple Plants to such an extent as to cause even the scions 

 from their roots to rise from the soil with an embryo Pine 

 Apple upon the head of each, and every plant to shew fruit, 

 in a very short time, whatever were its state and age. 



Very low temperature, under the influence of much light, 

 by retarding and diminishing the expenditure of sap in the 

 growth of the plants, comparatively with its creation, pro- 

 duced nearly similar effects, and caused an injuriously early 

 appearance of fruit. 



Very high temperature if accompanied with a sufficiently 

 humid state of the atmosphere, I found beneficial at all sea- 

 sons of the year under a curvilinear iron roofed house, for this 

 admitted as much light even in the middle of winter, as the 

 Pine Apple Plants appeared to require. 



Many months previous to the publication of Mr. Daniel's 

 very excellent communication in the Transactions of this 

 Society, (Vol. vi, page 1,) and without being in any degree 

 acquainted with his opinions, I had placed unglazed shallow 

 earthen pans upon the flues of my curvilinear-roofed stove, 

 such as he has recommended, nearly in contact with each 

 other ; and I had increased the dampness of the air within the 

 house by keeping the ground, which is not paved, constantly 

 very wet. The effects of excess of humidity in the air of the 

 house were, as might have been anticipated, diametrically 

 opposite to those which had resulted from drought ; and the 

 plants grew so rapidly as to become soon too large for the 



