B R O 



R R O 



of new, \\liich, if necessary, lie gl\'es place 

 lo bv skiiiiining ofl' a little of the surface ol 

 tho oKI. Tlie iiiw tan is never siitlered lo lie 

 \\ itlim a foot of tlie surface ; by which niesns 

 the pots are entirely plunged in the old. He 

 lays tbc half of wliatcver quantity of new Ian 

 is added in the bottom of the trench, and 

 divides the other equailv to within a foot of the 

 surface of the beds. In trenching the bcd> he 

 throws the sides to the middle, and the miildle to 

 the sides, that there may be an C(]ual mixture 

 of tlic old tan. Thus thev are rendered of a 

 nuld and ci|iial temperature from the first, and 

 C(4juinue n;iieh the same for three or four 

 monihs; and, after the lirst lillmg, are at- 

 tended with very little expense for new tan. It 

 is obvious, therefore, that, in tilling the pit of 

 a new pinery, it should either be done several 

 months before the plants are ])laced in it, 

 or the tan should be well sweated and wasted 

 by previous turning, in an open shed, &e. 

 And in either case it is advisable not lo plimge 

 the pots abpve lialf their depth, for the lirst two 

 or three monihs after filling. 



In adding new tan, it should invariably be 

 thrown up in a heap for eight or ten davs before 

 iisintr, in order to drip and sweeten ; and should 

 never be applied fresh from the tan-yard; as it 

 is wet, and apt to heat violently, as well as cake 

 in the beds. 



It is remarked that some object to tan as being 

 expensive, and tniublcsonie in working with: 

 but, if this method is practised, these will be 

 inconsiderable; and, as the plants require fre- 

 quent shifting, the trouble of stirring up the 

 bark-beds at such times is but trifling, the ad- 

 dition of new tan being sometimes unneces- 

 sary. 



He is convinced that there is no ingredient 

 which can be substituted for tan, that will 

 equally answer the purpose in the pinery; and 

 of course recommends the use of it in pre- 

 ference to all others, where it can be easily pro- 

 cured; and less or more of it is alwavs indis- 

 pensably necessary. He considers oak leaves as 

 the ne.xt best material : but they cannot be had 

 in many |)laees. Where they are used, he 

 advises that at least eighteen inches of well-re- 

 iluced tan be laid on the surface, to plunge the 

 pots in. 



After these, a mixture of stable-dung and tree 

 leaves of any kind is supposed the best. 'J'his 

 should be well fermentexl before it is used, and 

 at least two feet of reduced tan laid on the 

 surface for the reception of the plants. 



It is supposed by some that the reason of p'mes 

 being planted in pots, instead of the surface ot 

 the.btds, is the want of permanent he;it in them. 



as they may be removed with more facility 

 in the time of renewing the bark, 8cc. Hut Mr. 

 Nieol has a diflerent opinion of the iiiatter, as, 

 if the heat ot the bed were ever so permanent, he 

 would grow them in pots; as all the diflerent 

 plants of any kind do not grow alike in their 

 native climates, much less the pine in an arti- 

 lieial one. 'J'here is a necessity lor having at 

 least two compartments, and of growing the 

 plants in pots; that they may be removeil and 

 classed, according to eireumslanecs, with the 

 greater ease and safely. I'esides, many sorts of 

 plants in any situation do much better in pots 

 than otherwise; of these are all those ot the 

 succulent tribe, amongst which is the pine. 



There would also seem another reason, which 

 is the loose incoherent nature of tan, not ai- 

 fordins, a proper medium for the growth and 

 support of such luxurianl plants. 



The usual periods of forming and renovating 

 or refreshing these beds, are in the beginning 

 of the autumn, as in September, October, or 

 the following month, that the heat may be well 

 kept up during the winter, and in the spring, 

 as about the beginning of April, a forking np 

 being given in the interval between these periods; 

 the pits in these cases being constantly well 

 filled up, to allow for the settling that always 

 takes place. 



Mould proper for Potthig the Plants. — The 

 most suitable sort of earthy material for the 

 culture of the Fine Apple plant in, is that of 

 the pure vegetable kind, or some composition 

 in which it is a principal ingredient, a large pro- 

 portion of which should always be provided in 

 a proper state for the purpose. The most be- 

 neficial kind is that which is obtained from the 

 decayed leaves of the oak, or a mixture of it 

 with that from those of ash, elm, beech, syca- 

 more, &c. This mould is prepared by collecting 

 the leaves as they fall in the autumn, and placing 

 them in a heap, throwing a very little light 

 mould over them to prevent their blowing aw ay. 

 They should remain in this state during the 

 winter, and till the beginning of May, when 

 they should be turned over and mixed well to- 

 gether. In this way, by the spring following, 

 they will be reduced into a mould proper for 

 use. This should however be sifted before it is 

 cmplovcd, in order to remove pieces of slicks or 

 other improper matters. 



A compost of turfy vegetable mould with 

 rich gaiden soil, and well rotted stable-dung 

 from a hot-bed, in the |)roporlion of one third 

 of the latter, which has remained together for a 

 considerable length of lime, is likewise recom- 

 mended by some. 



Brown strong loamy earth well reJufed by 

 i2 <J 



