SEPT.] THE HOT-HOUSE. 531 



This will revive the heat of the bed, and continue in a due tem- 

 perature till next month, when the plants must be removed into the 

 fruiting-house, and plunged in a bed made wholly of new tan. 



The younger succession pines intended to succeed those, if not 

 lately done, should not be shifted into larger pots, the tan forked 

 up, and the pots replunged immediately after having received a 

 little water. 



CROWNS AND SUCKERS. 



The crowns and suckers of this year's production will require a 

 brisk bottom heat to enable the plants to make good roots before 

 winter ; therefore examine the bed, and if it is declined in heat fork 

 it up and replunge the pots immediately ; but if these were placed 

 on a dung hot-bed it may be necessary to renew the heat by a lining 

 of fresh hot dung applied to the sides, or to the sides and ends ; or 

 if the bed is much sunk to work it up afresh, adding some new dung 

 thereto, laying on the top, as before, several inches of light earth or 

 tan in which to plunge the pots. After this it will be necessary to 

 give a considerable portion of air to the plants, and to raise the 

 glasses behind when you find the steam rising in the bed. When 

 the nights begin to grow cold cover the glasses carefully with mats, 

 and be very cautious not to keep your lights close in sunny days. 



All your succession pines should have plenty of air at this season, 

 which, with a moderate and steady bottom heat, will keep them in a 

 growing and prosperous state, but by no means are they to be forced 

 too much nor too much confined, as by such treatment some of the 

 most forward might start into fruit at an untimely season, and all 

 would be rendered more unfit to bear the vicissitudes of the winter 

 season than if they were properly inured to the air and gradually 

 hardened ; but still there may be an excess in this as well as the 

 other, both of which are equally to be avoided. 



PROCURING FRESH TAN. 



About the latter end of this month you should procure a quantity 

 of fresh tan, if you employ this article, from the tan-yards, for the 

 purpose of making new beds in the next month for those plants 

 which you expect to produce fruit in the ensuing year, and also for 

 the succession pines. When the tan is brought home it will be pro- 

 per to throw it up in a heap to drain and ferment for ten or twelve 

 days before it is put into the pits. But if it is very wet, as is com- 

 monly the case when thrown up out of the tan-vats, it should be 

 spread thinly for two or three days, that the sun and air may draw 

 off or exhale the superabundant moisture; for if used too wet, it 

 would be a long time before it would acquire a sufficient degree of 

 heat. 



PREPARE COMPOSTS. 



The composts proper for pines are described on page 480, and if 

 you have not hitherto prepared such as may be wanted next season, 

 that business should be delayed no longer. 





