The different modes of cultivating the pine-apple: From its first introduction into Europe to the late improvements of T.A. Knight, esq.Loudon, J. C. (John Claudius)
History
The different modes of cultivating the pine-apple: From its first introduction into Europe to the late improvements of T.A. Knight, esq.
Loudon, J. C. (John Claudius)
Pineapple
The bed at this time should be renewed with a little fresh tan, in order
to promote its heating, and the pots plunged therein immediately. The
hot-house should be kept pretty warm till the heat of the tan begins to
arise, as it will be the means of causing the plants to strike both
sooner and stronger. As soon as the heat of the bed begins to arise, it
will be proper to give the plants a sprinkling of water over their
leaves; and as soon as they are perceived to grow, they will require a
little water once a week for a short time, and afterwards twice a week
till the next time of shifting them in their pots.
During the summer months give the plants plenty of air whenever the
weather is warm, and water properly, as has been described: let the pots
be kept in a regular constant heat, and clean from weeds; but above all,
avoid an over-heat of the tan. Some persons plunge a thermometer in the
tan, with the ball of its tube as deep as the bottom of the Pine-pots;
and by repeated observations, a point is fixed for the spirits in the
part of the tube above the surface of the tan, to show when the pots
should be raised. Whether the above, or the putting _watch-sticks_ in
the tan (which is the most common method) is practised, too much
attention cannot be had whenever there is the appearance of too violent
a heat in the tan.
If the above directions are strictly attended to, the plants will be
grown to a large size by the beginning of August; when they should be
shifted into the largest-sized fruiting-pots, with their roots and balls
entire.
But it will be proper here to observe, that in some hot-houses it is
found difficult to get plants of the Antigua and Sugar-loaf kinds to
fruit at a proper age; and, in that case, I advise the shaving off the
roots on the outside, and reducing the balls of _them_ at this shifting.
A greater proportion of sand should also be added to the compost, which
will be the means of bringing them into a fruiting state at a proper
season.
The disproportion of the second-sized and fruiting-pots is so great, as
to admit of a good quantity of fresh mould at this shifting, which is
absolutely necessary to support the plants till their fruit becomes
ripe: it also affords an opportunity of performing the operation of
shifting the plants without injuring their roots. As there will be a
large space between the ball and the side of the pot, the mould may be
put round the ball with great ease; whereas, when plants are shifted
into pots only a small size larger than those from whence they were
taken, they are generally much injured by the operation of shifting:
besides, even with the greatest care, there will frequently be spaces
left hollow between the ball and the side of the pot.
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