THE PINE-APPLE, ITS CULTIVATION. 
201 
filiform and attenuated. At the beginning of 
the anthesis [opening of the flower] these two 
petals, which in a manner adhere to the two 
lateral sepals, appear as if they really formed 
part of them. It is only in the progress of 
the anthesis that they become separated, and 
curl up in a corkscrew manner. By this sin- 
gle character this species is easily recognised. 
Though the flowers are small, it has a very 
fine effect from the profusion of blossoms on 
the racemes, which are numerous on the 
upper part of the stems, which bear in a pani- 
culate manner from four to six and sometimes 
more of these racemes, whose flowers present 
an agreeable, rich orange colour. It is easy 
to perceive the meaning of the name given to 
this species. The two lateral petals have the 
form of the ends of thread-ties proceeding 
from the flower by their sides. Professor 
Morren observed, that it would be interesting 
to study this physiological phenomenon of ad- 
herence in its deeper relations. From the 
little attention which he has been able to be- 
stow on the subject, he believes it is a junc- 
tion of cells analogous to what is observed in 
the corolla of Phyteuma. What seems to 
confirm this idea is the separation of these 
coralline threads, without organic lesion at the 
end of the anthesis. 
This Epidendrum funiferum is one of those 
which grow best in pots — for it is well known 
that there are several Epidendrums which do 
better suspended on blocks or in baskets — 
only the pots require thorough drainage, for 
in their flowering season these plants require 
plenty of water. Turfy peat and sphagnum, 
well mixed together, form the best soil for 
Epidendrums ; and for some kinds, of which 
this is one, a little garden earth may be very 
beneficially added, as it is found to induce 
flowering as well as to keep the moisture about 
the roots.- In its very young state care should 
be taken not to give it too much water, as 
that is necessary for it chiefly in its vigorous 
state. It is propagated by division of the 
plant ; the stems should be severed with a 
sharp knife some time before they are further 
disturbed. 
THE PINE-APPLE, ITS CULTIVATION. 
Among the very numerous writers on the 
Pine-apple, not one that we have seen seems 
to have any very direct notions of economy, and 
perhaps nobody is better able to appreciate 
a cheap mode of raising and fruiting a pine- 
apple than those who fancy, from all they 
have read, that such a costly job is beyond 
their means. We are quite aware that to do 
well with pines upon a large scale, provision 
must be made for a constant supply of arti- 
ficial heat, and therefore some appropriate 
building is the first tiling thought of ; of 
twenty writers, however, that we have con- 
sulted, not two of them agree in the construc- 
tion of their pine pits, or houses, or stove?. 
One would imagine that there was a great 
mystery attached to pine growing, and that 
success depended on the turn of a flue, six 
inches of tan room, the shape of a boiler, or 
the slope of a glass roof, when, in fact, none 
of these things have comparatively anything 
to do with the matter. There are some rules 
better observed than neglected, but they are 
very simple, and may be carried out in any 
way that the gardener's means dictate and he 
decides upon. Now Ave will endeavour to lay 
down these rules as plainly as possible, and 
each rule shall be a text for a few remarks 
on the various means of carrying out the rule. 
And be it here mentioned, that the numerous 
writers down to Hamilton all profess to do 
things the right way ; all condemn their pre- 
decessors, and make out that theirs is the 
plan that answers better than all others. 
Hamilton seems a rational man, and he gives 
the main features of all the previous practices 
before he gives his own ; and from the parti- 
culars he has given us we will take a few of 
the contradictions. 
First, as to soil : — Miller says, " Good rich 
kitchen-garden soil, with one-third of dung 
from an old melon bed." Giles says, "A rich 
hazelly loam from a well-pastured common." 
Adam Taylor says, " One load of mould from 
under the turf of a good pasture, and if light, 
a fourth part of good mellow loam, but if 
strong, two or three bushels of sea sand, the 
fourth part of a load of dung from a cow 
yard." Speechly says, " Turfs cut thin (two 
inches), carried to the pens in sheep's pas- 
tures and laid down, roots upwards, only one 
course thick; when trampled on and soddened, 
laid in a heap and often turned over." 
Mac Phail says, " The pine-apple will grow 
well in any kind of rich soil from the kitchen 
garden." Walter Nicol says, " Vegetable 
mould, strong brown loam, pigeon's dung, and 
shell marl." William Griffin says, " Four 
barrows of loam from a pasture, one barrow 
of sheep's dung, and two barrows of swine's 
dung ; lay together a year." Baldwin says, 
" The top spit of a pasture, and one half 
rotten dung, to lay a year." Mr. Gunter says, 
" Good garden earth and well-rotted dung." 
Oldacre says, " Good sound loam and dung 
with a little sand, with powdered bones." 
Aiton says, " Good yellow loam, with a third 
of rotten dung and some road grit to serve as 
sand." Mr. Knight used "green turfs chopped 
small and pressed close." At Thornfield, near 
Stockport, they used " turfs cut two inches 
thick, one-third decomposed dung, and one- 
tenth wood ashes, laid a few weeks together." 
