Sept.] THE HOT-HOUSE. 5H 



All your succession pines should have plenty of air at this sea- 

 son, which, with a moderate and steady bottom heat, will keep them 

 in a growing and prosperous state, but by no means are they to be 

 forced too much nor too much confined, as by such treatment some 

 of the most forward might start into fruit at an untimely season, 

 and all would be rendered more unfit to bear the vicissitudes of 

 the winter season than if they were properly inured to the air and 

 gradually hardened; but still there may be an excess in this as well 

 as the other, both of which are equally to be avoided. 



Procuring fresh Tan. 



About the latter end of this month you should procure a quantity 

 of fresh tan from the tan-yards for the purpose of making new beds 

 in the next month for those plants which you expect to produce 

 fruit in the ensuing Near, and also for the succession pines. When 

 the tan is brought home it will be proper to throw it up in a heap 

 to drain and ferment for ten or twelve days before it is put into the 

 pits. But if it is very wet, as is commonly the case when thrown 

 up out of the tan-vats, it should be spread thinly for two or three 

 days, that the sun and air may draw oft' or exhale the superabundant 

 moisture; for if used too wet, it would be a long time before it 

 would acquire a sufficient degree of heat. 



Prepare Composts. 



The composts proper for pines are described in page 456, and if 

 you have not hitherto prepared such as may be wanted next season, 

 that business should be delayed no longer. 



For most of the shrubby tribe and herbaceous plants of the hot- 

 house prepare equal parts of good light garden earth and mellow 

 surface loam from a rich pasture ground, with the turf; add to 

 these a fourth of very rotten or old hot-bed dung, and let the 

 whole be duly incorporated and exposed to the weather several 

 months before it is used, turning the heap over every five or six 

 weeks. 



