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JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



CULTURE OF THE PINE-APPLE. 



By Mr. H. W. Ward, F.R.H.S. 

 [Read April 21, 1896.] 



The Pine-apple (Ananas sativus) is a native of the West 

 Indies. It is grown extensively in Jamaica and the other 

 islands, where the mean temperature of the year is ahout 80°, 

 the mean of the hottest month being about 83°, and that of the 

 coldest 77°. It also succeeds fairly well in Southern Florida and 

 Southern California. It was introduced into England by way of 

 Holland by a Mr. Bentinck as far back as 1690, and since then 

 it has been cultivated with more or less success in the principal 

 gardens in Great Britain and Ireland, no garden of any size 

 being considered complete that does not include pineries among 

 its forcing-houses. 



In recent years, however, Pine-growing has been abandoned 

 in not a few places on the ground of the expense incurred in 

 the production of British Pines being excessive when compared 

 with the price at which fine fruits of foreign growth can now be 

 purchased of all the leading fruiterers all over the kingdom. 

 But this idea of great expense being necessarily incurred in the 

 production of British-grown Pines is more imaginary than real, 

 and is not in accordance with facts based upon practical ex- 

 perience, inasmuch as the annual cost of production (after the 

 initial expense) is comparatively small, so that, considering their 

 quality, the value of British-grown Pines is far above that of 

 any imported fruits, from which the bright colour, rich aroma, 

 and fine flavour characteristic of all well-developed British 

 Pines when ripe are almost invariably absent. 



In order to secure the most satisfactory results of cultivation 

 suitable accommodation must be provided for the growth of the 

 plants, and a sound knowledge of their cultural requirements in 

 all stages of growth must be possessed by the cultivator. If 

 these two things are supplied Pine-growing is an easy and 

 simple matter, involving less trouble and attention than any 

 other kind of fruit grown under glass ; and when once a small 

 stock of plants is established, the number is easily and quickly 

 increased. 



