“A very great number of gardeners have within the last twelve months visited my garden. Some of these were at once convinced of the advantages of the mode of culture which they saw; others have paid a second, or third visit; but every one has ultimately declared himself a zealous convert. I have never yet seen plants of the same age equally strong, nor any producing fruit better, nor indeed so well swelled; nor any equal in richness and flavour. But I have never taken off, nor shortened a root, nor taken any other measures to retard the period of fructification, with the prospect of obtaining larger fruit; and my plants have almost always showed fruit when fourteen or fifteen months old, though propagated from small and young suckers, or crowns. A great part of my Queen Pines (I have hitherto scarcely ever cultivated any other varieties) have, however, at that age, shown fruit with eight, and some with nine rows of pips; and I often see fruit of less weight growing upon plants of nearly double that age. Whether I shall be able to retard the period of fructification, or not, I have yet to learn; but I believe, I shall succeed by crowding my plants close together, so that each may receive less light. “Pine plants will, however, grow perfectly well in composts of different kinds; but I have found that they have succeeded best when the materials have been fresh, and retaining their organic form, particularly if the pots be large, relatively to the size of the plants, which, I think, they always ought to be, for the mode of culture recommended. I have used, with advantage, the haulm of beans cut into lengths of about an inch. “Very contrary to the conclusions which I should have been led to draw from writings upon the culture of the Pine Apple, I have constantly found that my plants succeed best in the part of my house where the flue first enters, and where the temperature is very high, varying from about 85° to 105°, and the air excessively dry. I have pointed out this circumstance to every gardener, whom I have seen in my house, and all have expressed their astonishment at the circumstance. I expected that this excess of heat would have occasioned the plants to show fruit prematurely, but this has not occurred in a single instance. What would be the quality of the fruit, if it were to be ripened in so high a temperature, I have not yet had an opportunity of knowing.