Pine-Apple
(Ananas sativa). The Pine-apple is a native of tropical America; it has also become naturalised, and grows in abundance, in some of the hot parts of Asia and Africa. It was introduced into this country about the end of the seventeenth century, and, after some thirty or forty years, the plant seems to have been cultivated for the use of its fruit. In those days, the maintenance of a temperature sufficiently high to suit the plant's requirements was far more difficult to accomplish than now, when suitable structures and all the modern appliances for heating are at command. Little is recorded of the success attending Pine-apple culture when first attempted; but, after the introduction of hot-water pipes, and, doubtless, also from the cultural requirements being much better understood, its cultivation, both for private consumption and for market, was, for a time, generally practised with much greater success than had hitherto been possible. Less than twenty years ago, the importation of ripe fruits, chiefly from the Azores, began in earnest, to meet the increased demand; and Pine-growing has gradually decreased in this country, the space and the attention of cultivators being devoted instead to fruits, &c., that are in more general demand, require less heat, and are not to be imported in such an excellent condition. First-class English-grown Pine-apples are still considered by many to be the finest and best in the world; but, so long as fresh, well-swelled fruits of the Smooth-leaved Cayenne variety can be imported to arrive little inferior in quality, it is more than likely that English Pine-growing will not again be practised to the extent it was previously. There are, however, still many gardens from which Pine-apples are expected in greater or less quantity; in some, the work attending their culture is rather laborious, especially where the necessary bottom-heat has to be mainly obtained from the plunging material, which generally consists of Oak-leaves or tan.