“I say not that Pine Apple plants will not do well without giving them water all over their leaves, for if hot-houses be kept in a good state of temperature for the growth of the Pine Apple, the great evaporation of the tan-bed, and of the moist earth about the roots of the plants, may supply the leaves sufficiently with water, especially in houses managed in the way this real practical gardener says he manages his Pine plants; that is, his hot-houses are very close, and he admits no air at the roof, so that the moist air which ascends up is thrown back among the plants. I would here remark, that when Pine Apple plants are watered all over their leaves when in fruit, the water should not be suffered to stand long in the heart of the crowns on the fruit, which it will seldom do if the heat in the house be good, but with a little care the plants may be watered all over their leaves, without letting it fall on the fruit, or the crowns of them. “He recommends that beds for the culture of the Pine Apple be built of wood: excepting it be oak, which is dear, other sorts of timber will not last long in such a situation; and therefore, for this and other reasons, (given in Section VII. page 67), I think beds built of brick, in a similar way to the one I invented, are preferable, and in the end cheaper than those of wood. “With regard to the method which this gardener useth to destroy insects on Pine Apple plants, it is a troublesome operation, and can be practised only on young plants, and indeed, according to his own account, insects on the Pine Apple may be destroyed in the course of their culture, which coincides exactly with the methods I used and recommend to be carried into practice by those who have the management of Pine Apple plants, and are troubled with insects. I have no doubt but his method of laying young plants in a hot-bed of rank dung, will effectually destroy the insects, though I think, however, they had best remain in the bed longer than one hour; but perhaps remaining even an hour, or a longer time, in such a dreadful situation, where I conceive no animal could long exist, might hurt the plants, if not destroy them. But let it be remembered, that if Pine plants be perfectly free of insects, if they are put into a hot-house where the scale or the bug insects are in the tan, or in any part of the house, the insects will find their way to creep to the Pines and breed upon them; for these insects are natural to the plant.” SECT. XI. _Culture of the Pine Apple as given in Abercrombie’s Practical Gardener, edited by Mr. James Mean, head gardener to Sir Abraham Hume, Bart. at Wormleybury, in Hertfordshire._