JULY.] THE HOT-HOUSE. 449 



When the fruit is eaten, it will be proper to preserve the cronws, 

 and any young suckers growing round at the base ;* particularly if 

 wanted for increase. 



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 Au- 

 gust, into full sized pots, of about eleven or twelve inches dia- 

 meter 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 round 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 wa- 

 tered ; 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. 



Care 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 proper, at this time, to refresh the earth in the top of the pots 

 or tubs, as directed in page 445, and also to shift such of the plants 

 as require it. The Hibiscus Rosa Sinensis, Vinca rosea, Plume- 

 ria 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 period, 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. 



* The Brown Antigua, the King, and the Sugar-loaf kinds, commonly pro- 

 duce 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. 



3M 



