B A R 



BAR 



to supply the stove or pinery annually. See 

 Stove. 



Beds formed of bark are also employed with 

 Buccess in raising various sorts of early produc- 

 tions of other kinds, as early strawberries, me- 

 lons, peas, French beans, kc., which, by the 

 regular and moderate heat which they afford, arc 

 mostly brought forward in the greatest perfec- 

 tion. They are likewise made use of in forcing 

 different sorts of curious flowers, both of the 

 bulbous, tuberous, and fibrous-rooted kinds, into 

 early blow ; as hyacinths, dwarf tulips, narcis- 

 suses, jonquils, anemones, ranunculuses, pinks, 

 &c. ; also many plants of the small shrubby 

 kinds, as roses, hyperieums, &c. 



Bark-beds are also employed with great ad- 

 vantage in forcing-frames, for the purpose of 

 producing early fruit of the apricot, peach, and 

 grape kinds. See Forcing-Frames, and Hot- 

 Walls. 



Hot-beds constituted of bark, from the slow 

 and regular manner in which the heat is in 

 common evolved, are not so liable as those of 

 dung toi njure the plants by their steam : they are 

 therefore to be preferred for all the more impor- 

 tant purposes of forcing, where the material can 

 be obtained. 



The heat of them may be perpetuated for a 

 great length of time, by having recourse occa- 

 sionally to the practice of forking or turning 

 them over, adding in such operations about a 

 third part of new tan or bark. The beds are 

 however to be wholly, or in a great part, reno- 

 vated every autumn or spring. 



There are different sorts or sizes of bark made 

 use of for the construction of these beds, as 

 coarse, middling, and small. The first kind is 

 the longest in taking on heat, and is apt to heat 

 violently at the beginning, but is of the longest 

 duration. The second sort heats sooner, is 

 more regular, and pretty durable in its effects. 

 But the last kind heats the quickest, yet it is the 

 weakest, and soonest becomes earthy ; conse- 

 quently the least proper for the purpose. Where 

 there is a choice of the material, the middle 

 sort, or a mixture of it and the coarse, should 

 constantly be preferred, admitting as little of the 

 small as possible. And care should be taken 

 that it be perfectly fresh from the vat of the 

 tanner. When the bark is wet after being 

 brought home, it is a good practice to throw it 

 up into heaps or ridges for a few days, in order 

 that it may be drained and rendered more dry, 

 as without such precaution the process of fer- 

 mentation may be too much retarded. 



The periods of making beds of this nature 

 must be regulated by circumstances ; but where 

 they arc intended for pine-apple plants, they 



should be prepared about the latter end of Sep- 

 tember or beginning of October, in order that 

 they may afford a good heat during the winter 

 season ; but when the raising of plants from 

 seeds, cuttings, &c, or the forcing of culinary 

 vegetables and fruits, or flowers, are the princi- 

 pal objects, the latter part of winter, or the 

 early spring season, may be the most suitable 

 times, as in January, March, or the following 

 month. For particular uses they may however 

 be made at any period. For the methods of 

 forming and managing them, see Hot-Bed. 



Bark-Pit, a pit or cavity of a long, square, 

 or other form, made to the depth of three or 

 four feet or more, in the hot-house, stove, or 

 other situation, in which to make tan or bark 

 hot-beds. Tiie width may be four, five, or six 

 feet or more, having length in proportion to that 

 of the hot-house, &c. When made in a de- 

 tached manner they may be of such sizes as are 

 requisite for the particular purpose in view. 

 They are formed by a low surrounding brick 

 wall, about three feet in height, in such pits as 

 are in the houses, and in the others three or 

 four feet in front, by four or five in the back. 



Pits of these different sorts are indispensably 

 necessary, where bark-beds are to be made, as 

 the loose nature of tan will not admit of being 

 formed into compact regular beds, without the 

 aid of such kinds of enclosures to confine it in. 



Bark-pits are necessary for various purposes 

 in hot-houses and stoves, as well as occasionally 

 in forcing-houses, &c. And bark-pits distinct 

 from hot-houses are likewise useful in extensive 

 gardens on many occasions, being of great ad- 

 vantage in the culture of many sorts of tender 

 exotics, and in rearing various kinds under dif- 

 ferent methods of propagation, as well as for 

 raising and nursing those of similar kinds in 

 their young and tender growth. They are also 

 useful for forcing and raising early productions 

 of several sorts of hardy plants in the greatest 

 perfection. 



Pits of this kind mostly extend lengthways, 

 and occupy nearly the whole bottom space of th» 

 houses, only about two feet on each side and at 

 the ends being left for a walk round between the 

 outward walls and those of the pits, which 

 should be. but very little sunk below the genera! 

 surface of the floor of the surrounding path ; the 

 bottom or floor being paved with brick, stone, 

 or some similar material, and the tops of the 

 walls of the pits well coped with wood or stone. 

 The bark-beds are made to the whole width, 

 length, and depth of these pits, and serve to 

 plunge the pots of the more tender exotic plants 

 in, such as the pine-apple, &c, in order that 

 they may have the benefit of a kindly moist heat 



