The different modes of cultivating the pine-apple, from its first introduction into Europe to the late improvements of T. A. Knight, esq

Abstract

The most esteemed varieties in present cultivation are: 1. The Old Queen. Fruit oval-shaped, and of a gold colour. Esteemed the hardiest kind, and fruited in fifteen or eighteen months. The fruit grows to a large size, often weighing from three to four pounds. It is much more certain of shewing fruit at a proper age and season than most of th eother sorts, and has just preference in most hot-houses. 2. Ripley's New Queen. A sub-variety of the Old Quenn with a large elegant fruit; fruited also in an equally short period. 3. Wlebeck Seedling. Fruit small, generally broader at the head than at the base; of a pale yellow, or sulphur color, with very flat pips, flesh white and tender, rich in flavour, with less acidity than is found in most other pines. Hort. Trans. iv. 213. 4. Pyrmidal or Brown Sugar-Loaf. Cone-shaped, and dark coloured till it ripens; the leaves brownish, the flesh yellow. 5. Prickly Striped Sugar-Loaf. Cone-shaped, the fruit of a golden colour, the leaves stgriped with black or purple lines. 6. Smooth Striped Sugar-Loaf. Similar to the above, but the leaves not prickly. 7. Havannah. Tankard-shaped; dark coloured till it ripens. 8. Montserrat. The leaves of a dark brown, inclinding to purple in th einside; fruit middle-sized and tun-shaped, and the pips or protuberances of the fruit larger and flatter than in the other kinds. 9. King Pine, or Shining Green. The leaves of a grass-green, with few prickles, th epulp hard and rather stringy, but of good flavor when ripe. 10. Green, or St. Vincent's Pine. A rare variety; when ripe the fruit is of an olive hue, middle-sized, and pyramidical. 11. Black Antigua. The fruit is shaped like the frustrum of a pyramid; leaves of brownish tinge, and drooping at the extermities, with strong pricles, thinly scattered. The pips of the fruit are large, often an inch over; and it attains a large size, weighing from three to four pounds. It is of dark colour till it ripens; very juicy; high flavoured. 12. Black Jamaica. The fruit is large, and the plant similar in character and habits to the above. 13. Providence Pine. There are two varieties, the white and the green, the fruit is large than that of any of the kinds cultivated in this country; the form inclining to pyramidical; the colour, at first, brownish grey, but when mature of a pale yellow. The flesh yellow and melting, abounding with quick lively juice. Speecly produced in the gardens at Welbeck, in 1794, a fruit that weighted five pounds and a quarter, or eighty-four ounces, and from a plant that was not a large one. Griffin had, in 1803, two plants placed under his care, which fruited in July 1804; the fruit of one plant weighing seven pounds and two ounces, and the other nine pounds three ounces, avoirdupois. This sort and the two preceding, require generally three years, and sometimes four or five, to produce their fruit. 14 Blood-Red. Fruit equal in bulk at both ends. Pips of moderate size; colour brick-red; flesh white and opaque; leaves of changeable hue; the flavor of the fruit being inferior to that of most others; this is to be considered merely as a curious variety. Hort. Trans. iv. 214. 15. Silver-Striped Queen. Leaves beautifully striped with white, yellow, and red; but the plant, though elegant, is a reluctant fruiter. 16. Variegated-Leaved Pines. Besides the Striped-leaved Queen, there are several sorts with beautifully varied leaves and fruits; but in general they are tardy in fruiting, and more to be considered as ornamental than as useful varieties. To these may be added, as sorts not generally known, or of inferior value: etc.