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 houses are placed in pairs, the furnaces for general use at the
extreme ends of the range, and the auxiliary ones in the middle, where
the steam-boiler is also placed, but worked by a fire apart.
On the whole, no plan of Pine-stove that has yet appeared, is more
simple, neat, economical, and complete than this; the only fault we have
to them, is, that owing to the great thickness of wood employed on the
bars of the sashes, they are rather dark and gloomy within; but this
might easily be remedied by the substitution of light iron rafters, with
wooden framed sashes sliding in them, but the bars of the sashes formed
of iron. It is true, gloomy as these houses are, the Pines thrive in
them as well as can be wished, but probably by having more light, they
might thrive, so as to surpass all expectation.
_Soil._ Good yellow loam, with a third of rotten dung, and some road
grit to serve as sand. This is well mixed together, and passed through a
wide screen, and the pots are well drained with three or four pieces of
potsherd.
_General management._ This differs in little or nothing from that of Mr.
Andrews; and only from that of Mr. Baldwin in the crowns and suckers
being struck in pots, instead of the bark, as is Mr. Baldwin’s practice.
Supposing the crowns and suckers potted in September, they are not
disturbed till the following March; such as are very forward, are
shifted at once into large pots, and will show fruit in the course of
that autumn, or within the year, and ripen their fruit in November or
December, very desirable periods for the royal table, equally
expeditious, as in Mr. Baldwin’s mode, and more so than in Cuba or
Jamaica. The plants which are in a less forward state are disrooted
entirely, put into pots according to their sizes, nursed all the summer
in the pits, and moved to the larger houses in autumn, where they show
fruit at various periods, during the winter, and in the following
season; thus ripening their fruit at different periods, from eighteen
months to two and a half years, from the time they were taken from the
parent plants. The pots in which these plants are fruited, seldom exceed
twelve inches in diameter.
_Insects._ Various modes of getting rid of these was attempted both at
Kew and Kensington; that which was finally successful was steeping for
two or three hours in strong tobacco-water, as recommended by Miller;
then washing in pure water two or three times--drying, planting,
shading, and applying a brisk bottom heat, a moist atmosphere, and
giving a little air. This recovered the plants, and future regimen
continued them in the vigorous state of health in which they now are.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account