sc.] THE HOT-HOUSE. 577 



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 fork- 

 ed 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 years bearing. 



The pines and other plants in the Hot-House, Sec. will still re- 

 quire to be be watered occasionally ; the former not oftener than 

 once a week, the shrubby kinds in small pots perhaps twice a week, 

 but the succulent sorts should, at this season, have hut 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 

 their stems it would infaliably rot them! The varieties of Cactus 

 Melocactus or Turk's Cap, with many other 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 leares 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 pre- 

 serve the plants from the bad effects produced by the parching in- 

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

 of insects. 



You may towards the latter end of tin's month introduce into the 

 Hot-House, pots of strawberries and flowering plants of various 

 kinds ; sow cucumber seed, and plant kindney-beans, as directed 

 in January, in order to force them into early perfection. Pots or 

 tubs of bearing grape-vines may also be now introduced for early 

 fruiting, if there are none trained in from the outside. Such vines 

 as are planted in front of the house and trained in under the lights, 

 should have the parts of their stems which are exposed to the 

 weather, well wrapped round with hay or straw neatly tied on, 

 also, their roots covered sufficiently with long litter ; for their 

 juices being put into full circulation by the forcing heat, renders 

 the exposed parts much more vulnerable to frost, than if the entire 

 plants stood inactive in the open air. 



4* 



