1868 . ] 
SEASONABLE GARDENING HINTS-FEBRUARY. 
41 
they constantly watch for, and rummage out and devour every acorn, 
even before it is fully ripe. 
Bicton Gardens. James Barnes. 
CUTTING OVER PINE-APPLES TO INDUCE FRUITFULNESS. 
dP/fJOUR readers will, many of them, be aware that Mr. Thomson, in his 
book on the Pine-apple, recommends cutting down those plants 
T&fy that at the proper time refuse to show fruit, as a means of in- 
6) ducing them to do so. And as far as my experience goes, the plan 
is a certain one, as the following instance will show. About eighteen 
plants of our late-summer-fruiting lot, which refused to throw up when 
wanted, were cut over at the surface of the pot about the end of the 
summer, potted very firmly in 12-inch pots, plunged in a bottom heat of 
90°, and treated much the same as newly potted suckers for about a 
fortnight, when shading was discontinued and more air given. Several 
plants showed fruit about a month after potting, and by the end of 
November swelled off fruit, weighing from 3 to 4 lbs.—a weight scarcely 
equal to those that showed at the proper season, which I attribute to the 
lateness of the season, as they were Queens. The others continued to pop 
up at intervals till the middle of December, and swelled off, I am inclined 
to think, more kindly than is usual with Queens so late in the year. The 
last of them are at this date (January 8), just about out of bloom, and 
promise to be large fruit, and a welcome addition to our early summer 
Queens. 
Under the most favourable circumstances Pines will sometimes refuse 
to show fruit at the proper time ; but if the plants have been well exposed 
to the sun and air during their period of growth, and are well ripened, 
this will seldom occur to any serious extent, if care is taken to guard 
against a sudden rise of temperature when starting, which is almost certain 
to cause the plant to produce leaves instead of flowers. 
Worthy Hall Gardens. J. Simpson. 
and 
heat 
will 
SEASONABLE GARDENING HINTS.—FEBRUARY. 
N important time is this for the amateur and practical gardener. 
The plans and arrangements for the coming season should now be 
decided on ; and this being done, every endeavour should then be 
made to push forward the work as much as possible, both in-doors and 
out-doors, before the busy spring time is upon us. Plants in pits 
frames will begin to feel the influence of the increased solar light and 
, and will therefore require more air, especially in mild weather; they 
also require more water, which should be given early in the day, so 
