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
A little fresh tan should be added, and the bed forked up, but not to
the bottom of the pit, as the tan is liable to heat violently at this
season of the year; of which when there is the least appearance, the
pots should be raised immediately. The delay of doing it one day may be
attended with very bad consequences.
The plants will continue to grow very fast this and the following month,
and should therefore be watered pretty plentifully, at least twice a
week; and, in the summer waterings, it should be observed, that it will
be of great service to the plants to be watered once a fortnight all
over their leaves. If the month of October be wet and cold, the plants
should not be watered above twice in that month; but if fine and clear,
once a week: and here ends the watering of the fruiting plants for the
season. I never give them any water in the months of November and
December; and during that time I keep the hot-house in a cold state, but
a bottom heat is always required; therefore the tan should have been
renewed, and the old part of it screened about the end of October or
beginning of November: from which time the bed will generally retain a
moderate warmth till the beginning of January, when the tan should again
be renewed. From that time the hot-house should be kept a few degrees
warmer; and, as soon as the tan begins to ferment, the plants may have a
little water given them.
In this month (January) some of the plants will appear set for fruiting,
which may be distinguished by the short leaves in their centres; and
from that time they should be moderately watered (till the middle of
March) and the hot-house should be kept pretty warm; a little air
should, however, be admitted, whenever the weather will permit.
About the middle of March it will be proper to renew the tan-bed, and,
at the same time, the plants should be divested of a few of their bottom
leaves; the mould on the top of the pots should be taken off as deep as
can be done without injuring the roots, and the pots filled up with
fresh compost-earth, which will add to the vigour of the plants, as well
as give a neatness to the whole when finished.
It is very injurious to the plants, and greatly retards the swelling of
the fruit, to remove them after this season; therefore, in case the heat
of the bed should decline, a fresh heat may be got without moving the
plants, by taking out the tan betwixt the pots as deep as possible, and
filling that space up with fresh tan.--This method is practised by some
even at an earlier season.
The plants at this season will demand a kind, lively bottom heat; and
whenever the weather will permit, a great quantity of air should be
admitted into the hot-house, the want of a due proportion of which would
cause the stems of the fruit to draw themselves weak, and grow tall;
after which the fruit never swells kindly.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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