96 BRITISH MODES OF CULTIVATING 



not violent, the plants will push very strong fibres 

 into this stratum of gravel, in which they seem to 

 delight. I therefore generally make it two inches 

 thick in small pots, and three or four in larger ones, 

 less or more, according to their size. From the 

 time I first adopted this mode of potting, I hardly 

 ever had an instance of an unhealthy plant ; and 

 this very particular, together with that of keeping 

 the plants always in a mild bottom-heat, is of 

 greater importance in the culture of Pines, than 

 all the other rules that have been given respecting 

 them, out of the ordinary way. The roots of Pines 

 seem to delight in gravel ; and I have been careful 

 to introduce it into the mould for plants of all ages. 

 I generally used small sea-gravel, in which was a 

 considerable proportion of shells, or chips of shells, 

 with other particles of a porous nature ; and I have 

 uniformly observed the finest fibres cling to these, 

 and often insinuate themselves through the pores, 

 or embrace the rougher particles. Therefore, if 

 sea gravel can be obtained, prefer it ; and next, 

 river gravel ; but avoid earthy pit gravel, and ra- 

 ther use sharp sand, or a mixture of pounded- 

 stone, chips, and brick-bats. The plants being 

 re-potted, plunge them in the bark-bed again, quite 

 down to the rims of the pots, keeping them per- 

 fectly level. Eight or nine inches from centre to 

 centre will be distance sufficient. When they are 

 all placed, give a little aired water, to settle the 

 earth about their roots. This need not be repeated 

 till the heat in the bed rise to the pots, after which, 





