Feb.1 THE HOT-HOUSE. 



171 



two extraordinary, for this purpose, can amount to but a very incon- 

 siderable expense. 



The leaves of the large sized plants should then be tied 

 together; they will be more manageable in this form than with their 

 leaves loose, and less liable to be damaged. The plants should 

 then be taken out of the pots, and divested of their long loose roots, 

 as also a few of the decayed leaves at the bottom, and the rest 

 washed clean. 



The last species of insects (by gardeners most generally called 

 pine bug) will sometimes conceal themselves in holes at the bottom 

 of the stems of the plants, especially in large ones; and as the 

 mixture might be prevented from penetrating into those holes, by 

 the air contained in them, care should be taken to examine that 

 part with great circumspection. 



It may not be amiss in this place to observe, that the earth which 

 comes out of the pine pots, together with the leaves and roots taken 

 from off the plants, should be removed to a considerable distance 

 from the hot-house. Also, that the pots out of which the pine 

 plants were taken, should not be used again for that purpose, with- 

 out first being put into boiling water. 



The pine plants being now ready, let them be put either into the 

 mixture, or the corrosive solution, in which they should remain, 

 with every part covered, for the space of six minutes; then take 

 them out, first letting the tops decline for the mixture to drain out 

 of their centres. The vessel should be immediately filled with 

 fresh plants, and those taken out set to dry with their roots down- 

 wards; for by placing them in that position the solution, &c. will 

 descend and penetrate to the very bottom of the leaves in the 

 centre of the plant, whereby the insects which are concealed there, 

 will be totally destroyed. The mixture will change the plants to 

 a sad green colour, which will give them the appearance of being 

 spoiled; but, as they become dry, they will in a great measure 

 resume their proper hue. 



During the operation it will be necessary to add a supply of hot 

 mixture, in order to keep the whole to a proper degree of warmth, 

 as also to make up the deficiency which must naturally happen. 



It will be proper to do this work in a fine day, and as soon in 

 the forenoon as convenient, that the plants may have time to dry, 

 which they will do in a few hours, and then they must undergo the 

 same operation a second time. 



The process of the second operation being exactly the same as 

 the first, a repetition thereof is unnecessary. 



After the second dipping, a sponge should be used to remove 

 any unsightly matter on the leaves of the plants. They should 

 then be set to dry with their tops doivnwards, that the mixture 

 may drain from every part, for it is necessary that every part of 

 the plant should be quite dry before it is planted. 



During the performance of the above operations, a sufficient 

 number of labourers should be employed in getting the hot-house 

 ready for the reception of the plants, (as changing the tan, and 

 cleaning every part of the hot-house;) and if the inside of the roof 



