110 THE HOT-HOUSE. [JAN. 



However, most of the tender succulent kinds are cultivated and 

 preserved in the bark- stove, placed on shelves, and in dry situations, 

 with very good success. 



In this kind of stove are erected movable shelves or stands above 

 one another, theatre ways, on which to place the pots of the various 

 kinds of plants intended to be kept therein. 



Stoves have been constructed on various other plans, according to 

 the fancy of the owners or their desire to try experiments; some cir- 

 cular, some crescent form, and others ranging north and south, with 

 double roofs and upright sashes, all of glass-work; but these not 

 being found to answer as well as those described, it is unnecessary to 

 take further notice of them. 



For the various kinds of forcing-frames, and their respective uses, 

 see pages 47 and 48. 



PINES. 



At this season the pinery hot-house requires good attendance, for 

 some of the pines will now, towards the end of the month, begin to 

 show fruit ; and your assistance is at no time more necessary than 

 when the fruit first appears, especially in one particular, the support- 

 ing a proper bottom heat; for if the heat of the bark-bed is not kept 

 up at that time, the young fruit will receive a cheek more than may 

 be imagined; as, notwithstanding the air of the house can be suffi- 

 ciently warmed by the flues, yet these plants also require always a 

 moderately brisk growing heat to their roots, but especially when the 

 fruit is young; and without that assistance, they will not advance 

 freely in the first growth, and being checked therein, will be much 

 inferior in size to what they otherwise would have been. 



Examine therefore carefully at this time, the heat of the bed 

 in which the pots of pines are plunged ; and if you find it very faint, 

 take up all the pots, and let the bed be forked up to the bottom. 

 But before you proceed to this, if the heat is found much decayed, 

 or the bark considerably wasted, or become very small or earthy, it 

 will be advisable to add at the same time some new tan, first removing 

 away some of the wasted bark at top and sides, and then fill up with 

 new bark, working the old and new well together. When that is 

 done, let the pots be replunged again to their riras, in a regular man- 

 ner. This will enliven the heat greatly; and, if done in proper time, 

 the young fruit will grow freely. 



Let the fires be made very regularly every evening and morning, 

 and take care that they are not made too strong, for that would be 

 of very bad consequence ; and to avoid this, have a thermometer 

 placed in the hot- house, as a direction to regulate the degree of heat. 

 Let the thermometer range from 70 at night to 85 or 90 with sun 

 light. 



Water should be given to the pine-apple plants once a week, or so 

 often as it may seem necessary, and always very moderately ; and let 

 as little as possible fall into the heart or between the leaves at this 

 season. 



For the conveniency of watering the pines and other plants that 



