8 FRUIT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



quired, the water can be dried up out of the trough 

 by simply turning the tap. This system of supplying 

 moisture is applicable in the case of forcing the other 

 fruits treated of in this volume. The pipes should 

 also be so arranged that, by means of stop-cocks, the 

 bottom-heat can be shut off, and applied and regulated 

 according to the amount recommended for the different 

 stages of the growth of the pine. 



In all pine-stoves where there is not a supply of 

 soft water from lake or stream, there should be a tank 

 into which to conduct the rain-water from the roof, 

 and passing through the tank a coil of hot-water pipe 

 to warm it. This, in cases where pines are grown 

 extensively, saves a vast amount of trouble in warm- 

 ing water, or in drawing it from the heating apparatus, 

 which latter, for several reasons, is not desirable. 



The arrangement of the plants in the various kinds 

 of pineries is a matter worth referring to. In lean-to 

 houses the tallest plants should always be in the back 

 row, and in span-roofed houses they should be placed 

 in the centre row, so that in each case the plants form 

 a sloping bank of foliage all fully exposed to the sun. 

 Where the plants are of very equal growth, the centre 

 of the bed in span-roofed houses should be a little 

 higher. 



As I intend to refer to the management of the leaf- 

 and-tan bed in the cultural directions to be given, I 

 will not here enter on that question. I may just state 

 that, apart from the increased labour and liability to 

 violent heating, I have a warm side for the tan-and- 

 leaf bed for pine-growing. I consider the heat derived 

 from this old-fashioned source second to none other 

 for the production of fine pines. Yet I would never 

 prefer it to hot water, because it entails more labour 



