BR O 



B R O 



of new, which, if necessary, he gives place 

 to by skimming off a little of the surface of 

 the old. The new tan is never suffered to lie 

 within afoot of the surface; by which means 

 the pots are entirely plunged in the old. He 

 lays the half of whatever quantity of new tan 

 is added in the bottom of the trench, and 

 divides the other equally to within a foot of the 

 surface of the beds. In trenching the beds he 

 throws the sides to the middle, and the middle to 

 the sides, that there may be an equal mixture 

 of the old tan. Thus thev are rendered of a 

 mild and equal temperature from the first, and 

 continue much the same for three or four 

 months; and, after the first filling, are at- 

 tended with very little expense for new tan. It 

 is obvious, therefore, that, in filling the pit of 

 ■a new pinery, it should either be done several 

 months before the plants are placed in it, 

 or the tan should be well sweated and wasted 

 by previous turning, in an open shed, &c. 

 And in either case if is advisable not to plunge 

 the pots above half their depth, for the first two 

 or three months after filling. 



In adding new tan, it should invariably be 

 thrown up in a heap for eight or ten days before 

 usinff, in order to drip and sweeten; and should 

 never be applied fresh from the tan-yard; as it 

 is wet, and apt to heat violently, as well as cake 

 in the beds. 



It is remarked that some object to tan as being 

 expensive, and troublesome in working with : 

 but, if this method is practised, these will be 

 inconsiderable; and, as the plants require fre- 

 quent shifting, the trouble of stirring up the 

 bark-beds at such times is but trifling, the ad- 

 dition of new tan being sometimes unneces- 

 sary. 



He is convinced that there is no ingredient 

 which can be substituted for tan, that will 

 equally answer the purpose in the pinery; and 

 of course recommends the use of it in pre- 

 ference to all others, where it can be easily pro- 

 cured; and less or more of it is always indis- 

 pensably necessary. He considers oak leaves as 

 the next best material ; but thev cannot be had 

 in many places. Where they are used, he 

 advises that at least eighteen inches of well-re- 

 duced tan be laid on the surface, to plunge the 

 pots in. 



After these,, a mixture of stable-dung and tree 

 leaves of any kind is supposed the best. This 

 should be well fermented before it is used, and 

 at least two feet of reduced tan laid on the 

 surface for the reception of the plants. 



It is supposed by some that the reason of pines 

 being planted in pots, instead of the surface of 

 the beds, is the want of permanent heat in them. 



as they may be removed with more facility 

 in the time of renewing the bark, &e. But Mr. 

 Nicol has a different opinion of the matter, as, 

 if the heat of the bed were ever so permanent, he 

 would grow them in pots; as all the different 

 plants of any kind do not grow alike in their 

 native climates, much less the pine in an arti- 

 ficial one. There is a necessity for having at 

 least two compartments, and of growing the 

 plants in pots; that they may be removed and 

 classed, according to circumstances, with the 

 greater case and safety. Besides, many sorts of 

 plants in any situation do much better in pots 

 than otherwise; of these are all those of the 

 succulent tribe, amongst which is the pine. 



There would also seem another reason, which 

 is the loose incoherent nature of tan, not af- 

 fording a proper medium for the growth and 

 support of such luxuriant plants. 



The usual periods of forming and renovating 

 or refreshing these beds, are in the beginning 

 of the autumn, as in September, October, or 

 the following month, that the heat may be well 

 kept up during the winter, and in the sprino. 

 as about the beginning of April, a forking up 

 being given in the interval between these period* ; 

 the pits in these cases being constantly well 

 filled up, to allow for the settling that always 

 takes place. 



Mould proper for Potting the Plants. — The 

 most suitable sort of earthy material for the 

 culture of the Pine Apple plant in, is that of 

 the pure vegetable kind, or some composition 

 in which it is a principal ingredient, a large pro- 

 portion of which should always be provided in 

 a proper state for the purpose. The most be- 

 neficial kind is that which is obtained from the 

 decayed leaves of the oak, or a mixture of it 

 with that from those of ash, elm, beech, syca- 

 more, &c. This mould is prepared by collecting 

 the leaves as they fall in the autumn, and placing 

 them in a heap, throwing a very little light 

 mould over them to prevent their blowing away. 

 They should remain in this state during the 

 winter, and till the beginning of May, when 

 they should be turned over and mixed well to- 

 gether. In this way, by the spring following, 

 they will be reduced into a mould proper for 

 use. This should however be sifted before it is 

 employed, in order to remove pieces of sticks or 

 other improper matters. 



A compost of turfy vegetable mould with 

 rich garden soil, and well rotted stable-dung 

 from a hot-bed, in the proportion of one third 

 of the latter, which has remained together for a 

 considerable length of time, is likewise recom- 

 mended by some. 



Brown strong loamy earth well reduced by 

 -Z C 



