502 THE HOT-HOUSE. SEPT.] 



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 lin- 

 ing of fresh hot dung applied to the sides, or to the sides ant', 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 oi 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 sea- 

 son, 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 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 proper 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 commonly 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 in page 446, and if 

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

 that business should be delayed no longer. 



For most of the shrubby tribe and herbaceous plants of the 

 Hot-house, prepare equal parts of good light garden earth, and 

 mellow surface loam from a rich pasture ground, with the turf; 

 add to these a fourth of very rotten or old hot-bed dung, and let 

 the whole be duly incorporated, and exposed to the weather several 

 momhs before it is used, turning the heap over every five or six 

 weeks. 



