180 THE HOT-HOUSE. [FEB. 



bottom insects. I do not know that this business of brushing is ab- 

 solutely necessary ; but as the whole operation in a large hot-house 

 may be performed in one day, the labor of a person or two extra- 

 ordinary, for this purpose, can amount to but a very inconsiderable 

 expense. 



The leaves of the large-sized plants should then be tied together; 

 they will be more manageable in this form than with their leaves 

 loose, and less liable to be damaged. The plants should then be 

 taken out of the pots, and divested of their long loose roots, as also 

 a few of the decayed leaves at the bottom, and the rest washed clean. 



The last species of insects (by gardeners most generally called 

 pine bug) will sometimes conceal themselves in holes at the bottom 

 of the stems of the plants, especially in large ones ; and as the mix- 

 ture might be prevented from penetrating into those holes, by the air 

 contained in them, care should be taken to examine that part with 

 great circumspection. 



It may not be amiss in this place to observe, that the earth which 

 comes out of the pine pots, together with the leaves and roots taken 

 from off the plants, should be removed to a considerable distance 

 from the hot-house. Also, that the pots out of which the pine 

 plants were taken, should not be used again for that purpose, without 

 first being put into boiling water. 



The pine plants being now ready, let them be put either in^o the 

 mixture, or the corrosive solution, in which they should remain, with 

 every part covered, for the space of six minutes ; then take them out, 

 first letting the tops decline for the mixture to drain out of their cen- 

 tres. The vessel should be immediately filled with fresh plants, and 

 those taken out set to dry with their root downwards ; for by placing 

 them in that position the solution, &c., will descend and penetrate to 

 the very bottom of the leaves in the centre of the plant, whereby the 

 insects which are concealed there will be totally destroyed. The 

 mixture will change the plants to a sad green color, which will give 

 them the appearance of being spoiled ; but, as they become dry, they 

 will in a great measure resume their proper hue. 



During the operation it will be necessary to add a supply of hot 

 mixture, in order to keep the whole to a proper degree of warmth, 

 as also to make up the deficiency which must naturally happen. 



It will be proper to do this work in a firte day, and as soon in the 

 forenoon as convenient, that the plants may have time to dry, which 

 they will do in a few hours, and then they must undergo the same 

 operation a second time. 



The process of the second operation being exactly the same as the 

 first, a repetition thereof is unnecessary. 



After the second dipping, a sponge should be used to remove any 

 unsightly matter on the leaves of the plants. They should then be 

 set to dry with their tops downwards, that the mixture may drain 

 from every part, for it is necessary that every part of the plant should 

 be quite dry before it is planted. 



During the performance of the above operations, a sufficient num- 

 ber of laborers should be employed in getting the hot-house ready 

 for the reception of the plants (as changing the tan, and cleaning 



