456 THE HOT-HOUSE. [July. 
of this kind may be procured from Barbadoes and Montserrat; but 
the fruit of the sugar-loaf is much to be preferred to it, and indeed 
to any other kind yet introduced. 
There is, likewise, the Surinam, or silver-striped pine, which 
exceeds in beauty the whole tribe of variegated plants. The leaves 
are variously striped with a dark green and delicate white; and the 
whole is tinged with a lively red, which produces a contrast that 
gives the plant a gay and most beautiful appearance. Nor is there 
less beauty in its fruit, the protuberances of which swell large, 
and, when ripe, are variously marbled with red, green, yellow, 
and white; which, together with the variegated crown on the top 
of the fruit, add a singularity and elegance to the whole beyond 
the power of description. The fruit is tolerably good, and there- 
fore the plant is doubly worthy of cultivation. 
Many other varieties of this fruit have arisen from seed, such as 
the black or brown Antigua, or Ripley pine, which is a very good 
fruit. The Grenada pine, with marbled leaves and very large fruit. 
The bog-warp pine, with broad green leaves. The smooth, long, 
narrow leaved pine, and the Surinam pine with gold-striped leaves, 
and some assert that there are varieties with red-fleshed fruit. 
Compost proper for Pine Plants. 
You should, in the first place, twelve months previous to the time 
of its being wanted for use, pare off the sward or turf of a pasture 
not more than two inches deep, where the soil is a strong, rich 
loam, and carry it to some convenient place to be piled together 
for rotting; observing to turn it over once a month at least, spread- 
ing it so as to expose a considerable surface to the summer sun, as 
well as to the frosts in winter; but in wet weather it will be proper 
to gather it up into a high ridge to prevent its I'ich juices being 
dissolved and carried away by water. If a quantity of sheep dung 
could be collected fresh and mixed therewith, in the first instance, 
it would greatly improve it. 
1. Having the above prepared and made fine with the spade, but 
not screened; to three barrow fulls of it, add one of vegetable mould 
of decayed oak leaves, and half a barrow full of coarse sand, ob- 
serving, however, that if the soil, from which the turf had been 
taken, inclined any way to sand, that should be now omitted. This 
makes a proper compost for crowns, suckers, and young plants. 
2. To make a compost for fruiting plants use three barrows of 
the above reduced sward, two of the vegetable mould, one of coarse 
sand, and one-fourth of a barrow of soot. 
The above compost should be made some months before wanted, 
and very frequently turned during that time, that, the different 
mixtures may get well and uniformity incorporated. As to the 
quantity of sand to be added, you must be governed by the nature 
of the soil from whence the turf was taken; for too great a portion 
of sand would be injurious, and subject many of the young plants 
to go into fruit before the proper period. 
Where oak leaves are not used in hot-houses, or for hot-beds, 
