OCT.] THE HOT-HOUSE, 543 



A frr.nie for this purpose should be made about nine or ten feet 

 long, four to five wide, three and a half high in front, and five in the 

 back part, with sashes well glazed and fitted as close and neat as 

 possible, so as to slide up and down freely. This frame should be 

 placed in a dry well sheltered situation, exposed fully to the south, 

 and where it can have the benefit of the sun during the whole day. 

 It should be filled with fresh well prepared tan, to the depth of 

 three feet when settled, and the pots plugged therein to their rims, 

 the smallest sized plants in front, the largest towards the back 

 part. 



The frame should be entirely surrounded with a large quantity 

 of the fallen leaves of trees to its full height, having siill more ia 

 reserve to add, as the others sink and contract in bulk, in conse- 

 quence of fermentation and pressure; always keeping them full up 

 to the tofi of the frame on every side ; the leaves will soon heat and 

 cause the tan to ferment, and between both a fine glow of warmth 

 will be kept up in the frame during the whole winter ; this with the 

 assistance of a suitable covering of mats, boards, cc. at night and 

 in severe weather, will keep the most tender plunts in health and 

 good condition. 



Linings of hot horse-dung may be substituted in place of leaves, 

 but the latter is preferable, on account of its slow, steady and long 

 continued heat. 



Oak Leaves used as a substitute for Tan. 



As oak leaves abound in almost every part of the United States, 

 it is of some importance to know that they may be used in forcing 

 pits of every kind, in place of tanners bark ; and with advantage, 

 their heat being constant, regular, and continuing for a long time, 

 often for an entire year ; whereas bark generally turns cold soon 

 after its violent heat is gone off, which obliges the gardener to fork 

 it up frequently, in order to revive the heat. 



The sooner the leaves are raked up after they fall from the trees, 

 the better, as the quality and fermenting substance, will naturally 

 decrease during the time they are exposed to the weather. 



When raked up they should be carried immediately into some 



open shed, and there thrown into a heap to settle and ferment 



In this place tread them well, and water them a little if you find 

 they are rather dry. The heap should be at least six or seven 

 feet in thickness, and covered with old mats as well to promote a 

 general fermentation as to prevent the upper leaves from being 

 blown away by the wind. They should be suffered to remain in 

 this state for four or five weeks, by which time they will be pro- 

 perly prepared for the pits, and will not settle down much after. 

 In putting them into the pits, if they appear dry, water them aliC- 

 tle and tread them in layers, exceeding well, till the pits are quite 

 full: then cover the whole with tan to the thickness of two inches 

 and tread it weil till the surface becomes smooth and even. On thrs 

 place your pots of pines or other tender plants in the manner they 

 are to stand, filling up the spaces betwcn them with tan as you pro- 

 ceed row by row. 



