PINEAPPLE; the fruit of the Ananassa satire, Lindl., a tropical plant, indigenous to South America and some of the West India Islands. It has become so perfectly naturalised in many parts of the hot regions of Asia and Africa, that it has been thought to be likewise a native of those countries. It was, however, first introduced into Europe from South America, and, as it is recorded by M. Le Cour of Leyden, about the middle of the 17th century : from Holland it was brought to this country in 1690, by the Earl of Portland, according to the Sloanean MSS. in the British Museum. There is a painting, formerly in the collection of Horace Walpole, in which Charles IL is represented as being presented with the first pine-apple by Rose, his gardener ; but there are some doubts whether that fruit was grown in England or obtained from Holland. It may, however, be fairly con cluded that pine-apples were exceedingly rare in this country, even at the tables of the nobility, in the beginning of the last century ; for in 1716, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu remarks that pine-apples were on the electoral table at Hanover when she was there in that year, on her journey to Constantinople ; and she states that she had never previously seen that species of fruit. (' Letters of Lady M. W. Montagu?) Since that period the cultivation of the pine-apple has been prosecuted with perseverance in Britain, but frequently the results have been very disproportionate to the expense incurred. At the present day the pine-apple in England is so abundantly produced, that although expensive, it is very common. Its delicious flavour, and the noble appearance which a well-grown fruit exhibits, render the cultivation of it a special object of horticultural enterprise and skill.
As notwithstanding the many treatises that have been written on the subject, failures in the production of fine fruit continue to occur, it seems desirable to point out in what the mismanagement of a gardener is most likely to consist, and how he may apply the directions to be found in books of gardening with least chance of failure.
It has been already stated that this plant is an inhabitant of the tropics, and, it may be added, near the level of the sea. The latter cir cumstance it is necessary to remark, because if it were a mountain plant, even though tropical, it might be natural for it to endure a comparatively low degree of temperature. But according to Beyrich (' Gardeners' Magazine, iii. 442), "the pine-apple in its wild state is found near the sea-shore, the sand accumulated there in downs serving for its growth, as well as for that of most of the species of the same family. The place where the best pine-apples are cultivated is of a similar nature. In the sandy plains of Praya Velha and Praya Grande, formed by the receding of the sea, and in which no other plant will thrive, are the spots where the pine-apple grows best." The tem perature at the level of the sea at or near the equator varies but little throughout the year; for instance, the mean temperature of the warmest month at Cumana, 10' 27' N. lat., is, according to Hum boldt, 84'38% and that of the coldest At Havanna, on tho skirt of the tropics, the mean of the warmest month is 83.84' ; that of the coldest 69-98°. At Vera Cruz the mean temperatures of the warmest and coldest mouths are respectively and 71-06°.
In conformity with the above, and also from the results of experience, it may be stated that the artificial temperature of the atmosphere in which the pine-apple is intended to be grown should have a mean of about 80°; or a minimum not lower than 70' at any time of the year, and a maximum not higher than 90°. When, from the shortness of our days in winter, there is a deficiency of light, and when forcing the plant in its absence would produce only imperfectly formed tissue, 70° will be proper. In summer 80° to 85°, or in the case of fruiting plants, from that to 90° will not be too much. The maximum by sun-heat may extend higher, but 100° should be its limit.