JULY] THE HOT-HOUSE. 483 



SHIFTING THE SUCCESSION PINES. 



The pine plants which are to fruit in the ensuing season, should 

 be shifted either in the last week of this month or the first in August, 

 into full sized pots, of about eleven or twelve inches diameter at 

 top, and ten deep ; by doing this so early in the year they will have 

 time to make good roots before spring, for otherwise they seldom 

 produce very large fruit. 



Having the pots and new compost ready, take the plants out of the 

 bark-bed, and shift them in the following method : 



First, place a shell in the bottom of the new pot, and put in two 

 inches deep of fresh compost : then turn the plant out of the old 

 pot with the ball entire, and place it immediately into the new, 

 fill up around the ball with more of the compost, and let the top 

 thereof be covered with it an inch deep. 



In this manner let the whole be shifted and immediately watered, 

 then plunge them again into the bark-bed. 



Previous to plunging the pots, the bark-bed must first be stirred 

 up to the bottom to revive the declining heat, observing at the same 

 time to add about one-third or at least one-fourth of new tan thereto, 

 if the old is much wasted, become earthy, or not likely to produce a 

 sufficient degree of bottom heat to promote the fresh rooting and 

 growth of the plants. 



CAEE OF THE VARIOUS HOT-HOUSE PLANTS. 



The general care and propagation of the various exotics of the hot- 

 house department, are the same now as directed in May and June, 

 and therefore unnecessary to be repeated ; but it would be very pro- 

 per at this time to refresh the earth in the top of the pots or tubs, as 

 directed on page 478, and also to shift such of the plants as require 

 it. The hibiscus rosa sinensis, vinca rosea, plumeria rubra, allamanda 

 cathartica, asclepias curassavica, lantanas, begonias, &c. may now be 

 easily propagated by cuttings, and where an increase of the various 

 kinds is wanted, that business ought not to be delayed to a later pe- 

 riod, that the cuttings may have time to become well rooted before 

 winter ; nor should you despair of being able to propagate any kind 

 of tree or shrub by cuttings ; for with due care there are few but may 

 be increased that way, especially with the assistance of bell-glasses 

 and a suitable bottom heat. 



produce suckers at the top of the stem, immediately under the fruit ; but 

 these are generally small, and of much less value than those produced 

 about the surface of the earth. 



