DEC.] THE HOT-HOUSE. 615 



be added to support a proper degree of heat till morning; and in 

 extremely severe weather it may sometimes be necessary to sit up 

 all night to guard against untoward consequences. At all events, 

 you must be up very early in the morning to renew the fires. 



If the hot-house is furnished with shutters or covering of any kind, 

 as noticed in January, they will now be of considerable use, both for 

 the preservation of the plants and the saving of fuel. It will, how- 

 ever, be very proper to hang thick mats every severe night in front 

 of the upright sashes, which will prevent the wind from rushing in 

 immediately on the plants through any deficiencies that may be in 

 the work. 



If the bark bed was properly made or renewed in October, or in 

 the beginning of November, it will yet be in a proper state of warmth/ 

 which is now essentially necessary; if, however, towards the end of 

 the month it is found to be much declined in heat, it should be 

 forked up to revive it, as directed in January, but more particularly 

 so if it contains pines for fruiting next season, which must be now 

 kept rather in a slow state of vegetation than dormant. 



Succession pines, or other plants in pits or in the succession-house, 

 require the same care as above, observing not to force them by too 

 much heat, lest the pines start to a fruiting state at an untimely 

 period. They are never fit to produce handsome-sized fruit until 

 they are two years old, at which age they in October should be placed 

 in the fruiting-house for the ensuing year's bearing. 



The pines and other plants in the hot-house, &c., will still require 

 to be watered occasionally, the former not oftener than once a week, 

 the shrubby kinds in small pots perhaps twice a week; but the suc- 

 culent sorts should at this season have but very little, and that only 

 when you are able to perceive that they are in absolute want of it; 

 and then let it be given round the edges of the pots, and not to the 

 plants themselves, for if it should stagnate about the stems it would 

 infallibly rot them. The varieties of cactus melocactus, or Turk's 

 cap, with many others of the most succulent kinds, should at this 

 season have no water given them, except in cases of great necessity. 



When there happens to come a fine sunny calm day, it will be 

 proper to admit some fresh air into the house by sliding some of 

 the glasses, in the warmest part of the day, a little way open, even 

 if but for half an hour; but be sure to close them again in due time, 

 and especially if the weather changes to cold or cloudy. This is best 

 effected at this season by sliding open a few of the roof-lights, if it 

 can be done with convenience. 



Pick off such decayed leaves as you perceive on the various plants, 

 keep them free from insects and filth of every kind, and the whole 

 house as sweet and clean as possible. 



Sprinkle your flues and walks occasionally with water to raise a 

 comforting steam of moisture in the house ; especially when you are 

 obliged to burn fires constantly night and day. This will preserve 

 the plants from the bad effects produced by the parching influence 

 of a constant fire-heat, and also tend to prevent an increase of in- 

 sects. 



You may, towards the latter end of this month, introduce into 



