356 FORCING GARDEN. 



During Night. During Day. 



March 60° to 70° 60° to 80° 



April 70—75 70—85 



May 75—80 90 — 100 



June 80—85 100 — 120* 



After the beginning of July, the heat is allowed to de- 

 cline by degrees, until it arrive at the winter temperature 

 of 60°. It is to be understood, however, that these tem- 

 peratures regard only stable-dung or tan heat ; and that 

 too, applied to crowns, as the larger suckers seldom require 

 more than 100°. When fire-heat is used, and it should 

 always be through the medium of hot water, the nocturnal 

 temperature should only approach towards 80° ; and there 

 should be some expedient for the slow immission of steam 

 into the atmosphere of the pit. During the whole summer, 

 care is employed to prevent the plants from being drawn, 

 and for this purpose they are allowed much space, and are 

 placed as near the glass as possible. In August and Sep- 

 tember abundance of air, and more copious supplies of 

 water, are given. In winter, the chief care is to preserve 

 the roots from damping off, and for this reason ; though it 

 is not the common practice, we should prefer winter pits, 

 having at least the command of fire-heat. 



This mode of driving, as it has been significantly called, 

 is applicable chiefly to the varieties called the Queen and 

 Ripley's New Queen ; most of the large growing sorts re- 

 quiring a longer period. It is desirable, therefore, that both 

 courses of culture should be carriod on at the same time ; 

 so that the larger varieties may be consigned to the trien- 



* These temperatures were actually maintained in the pineries of the 

 Royal Gardens at Kensington in 1825. Our authority (Mr. Gowans, now 

 gardener at Caddei House, and a most successful horticulturist) has subse- 

 quently recommended a mitigated scale. 



