326 THE HOT-HOUSE. [MARCH 



sary to keep them in a regular growing state ; for if young plants 

 receive a check afterwards, it generally causes many of them to start 

 fruit. From this time forward they will require a little water occa- 

 sionally, just what is only sufficient to keep the earth in a moderate 

 state of moisture, for too much would injure them. 



About the middle of the month or soon after, will be an eligible 

 season for shifting them, in the doing of which, shake off the whole 

 ball of earth, and cut off all the roots that are of a black color, care- 

 fully preserving such only as are white and strong. Then put the 

 plants that are intended to fruit next season, in pots of eight or nine 

 inches diameter at the top, and seven deep, with fresh mould entire. 



The bed at this time should be renewed with a little fresh tan, and 

 forked up in order to promote its heating, and the pots plunged 

 therein immediately. The hot-house should be kept pretty warm till 

 the heat of the tan begins to rise, as it will be the means of causing 

 the plants to strike both sooner and stronger. 



As soon as the bed gets warm, give the plants a sprinkling of water 

 over their leaves, and when you perceive them to grow, give water 

 according as they require it, and as the weather increases in heat 

 give air in proportion. 



VARIOUS SHRUBBY AND SUCCULENT HOT-HOUSE PLANTS. 



The various kinds of shrubby and succulent exotics will require 

 the same treatment this month as directed in the last, page 186, &c., 

 but particularly observing to give them air in proportion as the heat 

 of the weather increases, and water according to their respective ne- 

 cessities, as noticed in February. 



PROPAGATION OP EXOTIC TREES, SHRUBS, AND PLANTS. 



This is a very proper time to sow such seeds of rare plants as you 

 are able to procure ; those that are in good condition, and whose nature 

 it is to vegetate the first season, will rise freely ; but many kinds will 

 not grow for three, four, five, or six months after sowing, and others 

 not for a year; therefore, it will be necessary to have patience, and 

 to take care all the time of the whole, as well the pots in which the 

 plants do not rise, as those that do ; if you have room to plunge them 

 into the bark-pit, or into hot-beds at work, or made for the purpose, 

 it will greatly facilitate their growth. 



You may now propagate many kinds by suckers, cuttings, and 

 layers, which should be duly attended to, particularly such as are 

 scarce and difficult to be obtained. 



RAISING EARLY FLOWERS. FRUITS, ETC. IN THE HOT-HOUSE. 



Pots of any desirable flowering plants may still be introduced to 

 forward an early bloom, such as pinks, fuchsias, hydrangeas, roses, 

 carnations, and many others. (See February, &c.) 



Also pots of strawberries and vines, as in the two former months, 

 to continue the supply of early fruit. 



