Jan.] 



THE FORCING GARDEN. 



555 



MONTHLY OPERATIONS 



OF THE 



FORCING GARDEN. 



JANUARY. 



PINES. 



All those cultivators who have attained the greatest celebrity 

 in the cultivation of this fruit agree in the necessity of having 

 three distinct divisions, or compartments, suited to the different 

 stages of their growth. One for crowns and suckers ; one for 

 those in their second stage of growth, generally termed suc- 

 cession-plants ; and a third for the plants when fully estab- 

 lished, and in which they are to perfect their fruit. 



The necessity of these separate pits, or divisions, is proved 

 by the plants requiring different modes of treatment during 

 their growth, particularly as regards temperature. 



Climates in which the pine is indigenous, have not this 

 variety of temperature, it not being necessary in nature. The 

 growth of the plant from the seed, suckers, or crowns, pro- 

 ceeds at all times of the year as they may happen to be stuck 

 into the ground. This slovenly mode of culture never brings 

 this incomparable fruit to that state of perfection, which we 

 often see it in the pine-stoves of this country ; and even here 

 we have it in higher perfection and flavor, than it is ever found 

 in a cultivated state within the tropics. 



Although the pine is a native of warm climates, it is not so 

 tender as many imagine. They will bear a much higher de- 

 gree of heat, for almost any length of time, than most fruit- 

 bearing plants in cultivation, and will also, without injury, 

 bear a degree of cold that would be death to any other exotic 

 fi-uit, while in a state of vegetation. They are liable to be 



