Jolt.] THE HOT-HOUSE. 459 



fill up around the ball with more of the compost, and let the top 

 thereof be covered with it an inch deep. 



In this manner let the whole be shifted and immediately water- 

 ed, then plunge them again into the bark-bed. 



Previous to plunging the pots, the bark-bed must first be stirred 

 up to the bottom to revive the declining heat, observing at the same 

 time to add about one-third or at least one-fourth of new tan 

 thereto, if the old is much wasted, become earthy, or not likely to 

 produce a sufficient degree of bottom heat to promote the fresh 

 rooting and growth of the plants. 



Care of the various Hot-House Plants. 



The general care and propagation*" of the various exotics of the 

 hot-house department, are the same now as directed in May and 

 June, and therefore unnecessary to be repeated; but it would be 

 very proper at this time to refresh the earth in the top of the pots 

 or tubs, as directed in page 454, and also to shift such of the plants 

 as require it. The hibiscus rosa sinensis, vinca rosea, plumeria 

 rubra, allamanda cathartica, asclepias curassavica, lantanas, bego- 

 nias, &c, may now be easily propagated by cuttings, and where 

 an increase of the various kinds is wanted, that business ought not 

 to be delayed to a later period, that the cuttings may have time to 

 become well rooted before winter; nor should you despair of being 

 able to propagate any kind of tree or shrub by cuttings; for with 

 due care there are few but may be increased that way, especially 

 with the assistance of bell-glasses and a suitable bottom heat. 



The Moving Plant, or Sensitive Hedysarum. 



The Hedysarum gyrans, or moving plant, that extraordinary 

 phenomenon of the hot-house department, is peculiarly worthy the 

 attention of every curious observer. Mr. Aiton in his Hortus 

 Kewensis, describes it as a biennial plant, and Swartz, as an an- 

 nual; but it has survived several years in that inestimable collec- 

 tion, the property of William Hamilton, Esq., of the Woodlands, 

 near Philadelphia, whose variety of rare plants surpass by far, any 

 other on this side the Atlantic, and perhaps any private collection 

 in Europe. 



The singular motion with which the lateral leaflets or appendi- 

 cles of this plant are endued, is thus described in Linnaeus's sup- 

 plement. 



"This is a wonderful plant on account of its voluntary motion, 

 which is not occasioned by any touch, irritation, or movement in 

 the air, as in the mimosa, oxalis, and dionaea; nor is it so evanes- 

 cent as in amorpha. No sooner had the plants raised from seed, 

 acquired their ternate leaves, than they begun to be in motion this 

 way and that; this movement did not cease during the whole course 

 of their vegetation, nor were they observant of any time, order or 

 direction; one leaflet frequently revolved, whilst the other on the 

 same petiole was quiescent; sometimes a few leaflets only were in 



