15S The Gardener's New Director. 

 nas heat, watering the plants gent!}' and often, to en- 

 courage their fruit to fwell, this in a particular manner 

 is to be attended to when they are in bloflbm ; as then a 

 goou heat, and a plenty of water, fwells the fruit to a 

 defirable fize. By the beginning of Marchy renew the 

 tan in the pits where the fruiters are in pots, but ne- 

 ver ur.pot any plants after they have fhewn their fruit, 

 otherwife it will be fmall, and late in ripening ; be very 

 obfervant to keep up a good heat, and to give plenty of 

 water, on the firft appearance of fruit, as this not only 

 gives them fize, but flavour too. By the beginning of 

 March I would fet all the youn? plants, and tranfplant 

 thofe which are not to fruit into the fummer brick 

 frame?, firft trimming their roots, earthing, and new 

 potting them, and givirg new tan to the bed : (hould 

 this be delayed lor/er than the firft week in March, they 

 will very probably fly up into fmall ftunted fruit : this 

 method cf rranfplanting them, and at this feafon, is the 

 beft expedient yet known to prevent thefe untimely 

 produttions, together with (hading, giving due air, and 

 gently watering them : Nor would I encourage the cut- 

 ting off many of their leaves, though bruifed or other- 

 wife hurt, for the plants cannot be expe^fted to thrive, 

 that are deprived of the means of perfpiration and 

 refpiration, of which ufe the leaves are to them ; be- 

 fides, much cutting occaficns much bleeding, which 

 weakens the Pines. But ihould it be found neceflary to 

 take off fome old or bruifed leaves with your knife, 

 fplit them, when they will come off very eafily. Ob- 

 ferve whe.i their leaves are of a florid green colour on 

 the infide, and of a good afh-colour on the outflde, 

 the leaves well expanded, not drawn in, or hanging 

 down, they are then in good health. I have already 

 recommended a botanical thermometer, which (hould 

 be placed at a diflrance from the fire, and when the fpi- 

 rit keeps up to the height you defire, and kept from 

 the Tun's rays, then it is certain that the heat works well 

 in the fuina'ce and the flues. Obferve in warm weather, 

 that the thermometer is to be removed from the dove, 

 and placed in a cool place, otherwife the fpirit will burft 

 thetube. 

 As foon as you perceive your Pines fpotting on their 



leaves. 



