March.] THE HOT-HOUSE. 3]j 



This, when brought home, if very full of moisture, and but little or 

 no heat, should be thrown up in a heap to remain eight or ten days, 

 to drain and prepare for fermentation. But if very wet, it should 

 be first spread thin in an open sunny place for two or three days 

 to dry, and be then thrown in a heap. 



When your bark is ready, and that the bark-pit is declined in 

 heat, the latter end of this month, or earlier if necessary, proceed 

 to fork up and renew it as directed in page 17G, and immediately 

 replunge the pots. The whole of this work should be begun and 

 finished the same day if possible. 



The heat of the old bark, not being quite exhausted, will cause 

 the new immediately to ferment, and if well proportioned and mix- 

 ed, and it is done towards the end of the month, it will retain 

 a kindly growing heat till the fruit is ripe. For further particulars 

 see January and February. 



Succession Pines. 



As the length of the day and power of the sun increases, these 

 plants will begin to grow freely, and from that time it will be ne- 

 cessary to keep them in a regular growing state; for if young plants 

 receive a check afterwards, it generally causes many of them to 

 start fruit. From this time forward they will require a little water 

 occasionally, just what is only sufficient to keep the earth in a 

 moderate state of moisture, for too much would injure them. 



About the middle of the month or soon after, will be an eligible 

 season for shifting them, in the doing of which, shake oft' the whole 

 ball of earth, and cut oft* all the roots that are of a black colour, 

 carefully preserving such only as are white and strong. Then put 

 the plants that are intended to fruit next season, in pots of eight or 

 nine inches diameter at the top, and seven deep, with fresh mould 

 entire. 



The bed at this time should be renewed with a little fresh tan, 

 and forked up in order to promote its heating, and the pots plunged 

 therein immediately. The hot-house should be kept pretty warm 

 till the heat of the tan begins to rise, as it will be the means of 

 causing the plants to strike both sooner and stronger. 



As soon as the bed gets warm, give the plants a sprinkling of 

 water over their leaves, and when you perceive them to grow, give 

 water according as they require it, and as the weather increases in 

 heat give air in proportion. 



Various Shrubby and Succulent Hot-House Plants. 



The various kinds of shrubby and succulent exotics will require 

 the same treatment this month as directed in the last, page 177, 

 &C, but particularly observing to give them air in proportion as 

 the heat of the weather increases, and water according to their 

 respective necessities, as noticed in February. 



