136 BRITISH MODES OF CULTIVATING 



coal, or almost any powder, not even excepting 

 gunpowder, if a due proportion of well-rotted 

 manure were added, and water, heat, light, and 

 air, duly supplied. 



General management. In this, Mr. Oldacre has 

 nothing particular; he is careful not to let the 

 temperature of either frames or pits, containing 

 Pine plants fall under 60 in winter, but is not 

 afraid of a heat of 90 or 100 in summer. After 

 shifting, and occasionally during very hot weather, 

 he shades the plants in the frames and succession- 

 pits, well knowing that the want of abundant and 

 extended roots must lessen that supply of moisture 

 essential to the vigour of plants, during high sun- 

 shine, when evaporation is so powerful. His fruit- 

 ing-plants he keeps in large pots, rather broad 

 than deep, and so liberally supplies them with 

 water, that evaporation and transpiration go on 

 even in the hottest sun-shine, without injuring the 

 plants. He waters often with liquid manure, ge- 

 nerally the drainings of dunghills; frequently 

 steams the house by watering the paths and flues 

 when the steam apparatus is not at work ; some- 

 times he waters the plants over the top ; and at 

 all times he keeps up a good bottom heat. 



It may be further noticed, that in the hottest 

 weather, from June to September, he permits the 

 temperature of the atmosphere of the house to rise 

 to upwards of 100 degrees during the day, but 

 leaves sufficient number of sashes open during the 



