PIN 



[037 



rotten loaves, and loam altogether (but 

 most of the loam), and then passed 

 through a very coarse riddle, afterwards 

 adding one-sixth of charred sticks, or 

 rubbish, such as will pass readily through 

 a riddle of an inch mesh. 



Use pots which would require but one 

 more shift : the size of the pot for the 

 final shift will determine this ; and pots 

 of about thirteen inches diameter will be 

 sufficiently large for any beginner to 

 fruit in. In potting, first place three or 

 four large crocks in such a way as 

 that at least three bold apertures be 

 formed, both for the escape of water and 

 the admission of gaseous matter from 

 below. Over this strew broken crocks 

 and charcoal lumps, large as horse-beans, 

 until the large crocks at the bottom are 

 just concealed. Then strew a layer of 

 the turfy lumps, out of which the loose 

 soil has been ejected by shaking in a 

 riddle. This done, the ball may at once 

 be inserted, first suffering such crocks as 

 are loose to dislodge themselves from the 

 old ball. Next, throw in another layer 

 of the turfy lumps all round the ball, 

 and on these strew a couple of inches of 

 the mixed compost in a mellow state; 

 then, with a blunt stick, give the whole a 

 slight pressure all round the ball, add 

 another layer of the turfy lumps, strewing 

 a little of the compost over them ; again 

 press with the stick; and now place a 

 final coating of the compost, nearly two 

 inches in depth, all over, and level with 

 the rim of the pot. Let there be no 

 tapping or thumping the bottom of the 

 pot on the bench. If the balls of the 

 pines about to be shifted are dry, water 

 them, at least three days before they are 

 to be shifted, with tepid manure-water, 

 in order to allow the moisture to equalise 

 itself, and the surplus to pass away. 

 Thus there will be no occasion for any 

 root-watering for nearly a month after 

 shifting. The plants may be plunged 

 immediately they are shifted; but let 

 them by no means be more than half 

 their depth in the tan. If any disrooting 

 has become really necessary, and the 

 sun shines bright, a little canvass shad- 

 ing will be a benefit for a couple of 

 hours each day; not, however, to ob- 

 struct light, but rather to prevent the 

 too rapid dispersion of atmospheric 

 moisture. 



Stove. For the construction of this, 

 see HOTHOUSE and PIT. 



1 PIN 



Table of Temperature as to Artificial 

 Heat only. 



Day. Night s SSi 



January 64 deg. . 60 deg. . 6 deg. 



February 66 ..60 .. 6 ,, 



Tables of this kind must not be allowed 

 to guide the thermometer entirely. A 

 good cultivator will take notice of the 

 condition of his plants, and shape his 

 course accordingly. If they appear 

 "drawn," he should at once 'lower his 

 night heat, as also that on dull clays. 



For bottom-heat, by adding 5 to every 

 one of the above artificial day tempera- 

 tures, we shall be as correct as by any 

 tedious detail. Thus July and August 

 should have a bottom-heat of 85, which 

 ought never to be exceeded in pine cul- 

 ture. If bottom-heat is supplied by a 

 tank or pipes heated by hot water, the 

 directions about renewing the tan are 

 not needed. 



Monthly Culture. The plants being all 

 plunged in the new pit, trial sticks must 

 be put in, and a bottom-heat thermo- 

 meter by all means employed. The bot- 

 tom-heat here given is meant to apply to- 

 the heat at the bottom of the pot. Whilst 

 practitioners are driven to capricious fer- 

 menting materials as a source of bottom- 

 heat, an excess of heat will sometimes 

 become necessary Inside the bed, in order 

 to provide somewhat against sudden 

 declines. Let, then, the operator secure 

 the bottom-heat as per table at the bot- 

 tom of the pot, and all will be right. 



If the heat rises above the desired 

 point, let water be instantly employed as 

 a cooler between the pots ; and if this 

 does not immediately check it sufficiently, 

 let the pots forthwith be rocked to and 

 fro in the bed, until a fair cavity is ob- 

 tained between the tan and the pot side ; 

 and when the heat has declined to the 

 desired pitch the cavity may be filled up 

 again. 



Let atmospheric moisture be liberally 

 employed, especially from three o'clock 

 in the afternoon until eight or nine the 

 next morning. A slight syringing may 

 be applied on every afternoon about 



