ANANASSA SATIVA VARIEGATA.

PLATE XXI.

"THE welcome flowers are blossoming,
In joyous troops reveal'd;

They lift their dewy buds and bells
In garden, mead, and field.
They lurk in every sunless path
Where forest children tread;

They dot like stars the sacred turf
Which lies above the dead.
They sport with every playful wind
That stirs the blooming trees,
And laugh on every fragrant bush,
All full of toiling bees.

From the green marge of lake and stream,
Fresh vale and mountain sod,

They look in gentle glory forth

The pure sweet flowers of God."

GILBORNE LYONS.

THE above plant is a variegated variety of the Pine-apple. The name is derived from Nanas, the local Guiana name for the South American Pine-apple. Linnæus, 6.-Hexandria, 1.-Monogynia, Natural Order Bromeliacea, (Bromelworts.)

The plants that yield this most delicious of fruits were first cultivated, so as to bear fruit, in England, in 1715, at Richmond, the country seat of Sir Matthew Dickson. The Pine-apple was, however, introduced into this country as early as 1690. There are now as many as thirty distinct kinds, yet not above half a score of them are worthy of cultivation. Of these may be mentioned the Queen, an early sort, a free grower, and an excellent fruiter; the Ripley Queen, considered by some preferable to the last; Black Jamaica, the best winter pine; White Providence, the largest and noblest of the tribe, but inferior in quality; the Black Antigua, a splendid pyramidal fruit; St. Vincent or Green Olive, a good winter fruit; Brown

Sugarloaf, a large juity sort; Lemon Queen. Triiki Enville, etc.; the latter second-rate fami

When this badi dey was first introduced is unknown. A store berbaceous plant, with leaves from two to three feet long, having beautiful golden yellow and white stripes, the edge of each leaf being thickly covered with recurved spines.

Culture. Like the Pine-apple, this variety requires rather a frong comport, consisting of fbry lam two parts, welldecomposed dung half a part, and decayed leaves one part. Add to this a small quantity of peat, which will preserve the variegation and render the colours more vivid. Drain well and lay a thin layer of charcoal on the top of the drainage. Pot in March, and again in August, and a fine plant will be obtained quickly. Flange the pot in a moderate-heated tanbed, or a bed of leaves in the stove, and renew the heat as it falls by adding fresh tan or leaves. The plant, however, will grow and thrive in a high temperature without being plunged.

Propagation. Like the Common Pine-apple, this variety is increased from suckers which spring from the axils of the lower leaves. When these have attained a good size they should be separated from the parent, and allowed to dry up the wound at the base for twenty-four hours before planting. Then insert them in the tan or leaf-bed until fresh roots are formed; after which pot, and plunge in bottom-heat; give no water for a week or ten days, and then very little, (only just enough to keep the soil moist.) As soon as roots are emitted the quantity of water may be increased.

This variety bears a fruit of very inferior flavour, which generally produces a crown. When the fruit is ripe this crown may be twisted out of the fruit and treated as a sucker, and will mostly make a handsome plant.

Heat required 70 to 80° in summer, 60° to 65° in winter. In the latter season much less water is requisite. The illustration is from Mr. Howard's plant.