456 THE HOT-HOUSE. [July 
■will cause them to decay much sooner, and make room for the 
roots to be produced with the greater ease. 
The crowns will require but very little water, till they have taken 
root, and are in a growing state; when it may be administered 
more freely, but always with a sparing hand. 
Raising the Fine by Suckers. 
As the fruit of the Pine-apple is the principal object, and sole 
reward of the great expense attendant on its management, few per- 
sons choose to permit the suckers to remain on the plants till they 
grow very large; as they would injure the fruit, and prevent its 
swelling; they are, therefore, generally stopped in growth, or 
taken off, as soon as it can be done with safety; but when a stock 
of plants is the object, the additional advantage which might be 
gained in the fruit is given up, or at least of as many as will pro- 
duce the number of suckers required, in order to encourage their 
growth, and are permitted to remain on the old stocks, or plants, 
even for some time after the fruit is cut. In this situation the 
suckers will grow very large; provided the stools are plentifully 
supplied with water. 
The suckers should not be taken from the plants, till they are 
grown to the length of about twelve inches, when their bottoms 
will be hard, woody, and full of round knobs, which are the rudi- 
ments of the roots. 
In taking off each sucker, remove it two or three times backward 
and forward, in a side way direction, and it will come out with its 
bottom entire, which should be cut smooth and deprived of any rag- 
gedness. 
Place these in a shady part of the Hot-house, for two or three 
days, and then plant them in small sized pots, just so deep as to 
keep them fast in the earth; after which they are to be treated as 
directed for the crowns. The proper size of the pots to plant full- 
grown crowns and suckers in, is six inches diameter in top, and five 
and a half deep. 
Care of the Fruiting Pines. 
The Fruiting-Pines must now have abundance of air, which adds 
much to the flavour of the fruit; but though the heat of the day 
at this season, is very intense, yet, when north westerly winds 
prevail, the night sometimes happens, though not frequently, to be 
rather cold for the fruiting-plants; in which case, it may be prudent 
to close the lights at night, taking care to slide them open early 
in the morning; this, however must be governed by circumstan- 
ces, and by the heat of the bark-pit, which if any way brisk, will 
render it the more necessary to give plenty of air at all times. 
As the Pine-apples come to maturity, care should be taken to 
cut them off when in due perfection, and before they become too 
ripe; generally cutting them in a morning, each, with several 
inches of the stalk, and with the crown of leaves at top, till served 
to the table. 
