PIN 



[ 638 ] 



PIN 



closing time, taking care that at this time 

 (February) it is dispersed on the follow- 

 ing morning by a liberal heat and a free 

 ventilation. Air must be given daily, if 

 only for an hour; during all moderate 

 weather a little may be given at 8 A.M. ; 

 increased, if necessary, about 11 A.M. ; 

 and taken entirely away about 3 P.M. 



March. The sun will now be gaining 

 much power, and the amount of perspi- 

 ration from the foliage will be much 

 increased ; let, therefore, a correspond- 

 ing increase take place in the amount of 

 atmospheric moisture. Shading may be 

 employed for a couple of hours or so in 

 the middle of very sunny days with some 

 benefit. Syringing the surface of the 

 tan is an excellent plan. If the wind is 

 very cutting, be very cautious in the ad- 

 mission of air ; the front sashes may be 

 kept closed, and, if sunny, the shade 

 applied, merely letting a little of the sur- 

 plus heat escape at back. 



April. In proportion to rapidity of 

 growth must be the admission of air. 

 With a little freedom in growth, accom- 

 panied by a free perspiration, the plants 

 will begin to require occasional waterings ; 

 indeed, the Queen section will have re- 

 quired it before March was out. With 

 regard to such as the Black Jamaica, the 

 case is widely diflerent ; it is astonishing 

 how long these pines will not only subsist 

 but thrive without water. Queens, En- 

 yilles, Providences, &c., will require it 

 thrice to their once, especially the Queens. 



May. Atmospheric moisture must 

 continue to increase with increasing heat 

 and light. The syringe may now be 

 plied two or three times a week, always 

 choosing bright afternoons for its appli- 

 cation. The closing up, or reducing the 

 air, must now be deferred until four 

 o'clock P.M., and the giving of air must 

 take place proportionately sooner; in- 

 deed, such ought to be in April. If the 

 pines are vigorous, and plenty of atmo- 

 spheric moisture can be commanded, 

 discontinue shading at the end of April 

 or beginning of May, unless the roof be 

 of an exceedingly bright character, and 

 the squares of glass very large. Rather 

 let atmospheric moisture more abound, 

 accompanied by a freer ventilation still. 



June. If the pines have done well, 

 their pots will be filled with fine roots by 

 the end of June, and shifting into the 

 frniting-pots will become necessary. We 

 will, however, pass on to the next month. 



July. At whatever period the last 

 shifting occurs, the same routine of pot- 

 ting may be observed. We have nothing 

 new to say, except that as the size of the 

 pot increases, so may in proportion the 

 size of the lumps of turf, &c. The plung- 

 ing medium, if necessary, may be re- 

 newed ; but much caution must be exer- 

 cised at this period, when the solar heat 

 produces so much excitement. How- 

 ever, we advise that a foot or so of new 

 tan be trenched into the bottom of the 

 bed, and a little mixed with surface tan, 

 and this merely to promote durability 

 through the ensuing winter. Watch 

 daily their bottom-heat thermometer. 

 As before observed, if the plants re- 

 quire a watering, let it be three days 

 before the operation of shifting. 



August. After the plants have been 

 shifted a fortnight or so, they will again 

 require the water-pot. Until the plants 

 are beginning to root in the new soil, 

 however, they may be kept moist enough 

 by copious syringings, damping also 

 the surface of the tan daily. All that is 

 further necessary is a most liberal venti- 

 lation from eight A.M. until past four P.M., 

 applying all the atmospheric moisture 

 possible the moment the house is closed, 

 and syringing just previous to closing. 



September. The August advice will do 

 perfectly well for this month, except that 

 ventilation may even be more liberal still, 

 when the weather is fine, to put a check 

 on too rampant growth ; for, in order to 

 have fine " shows," the tissue of the 

 plant must become highly solidified. 



October. The light will now begin to 

 decrease considerably, and both artificial 

 heat and atmospheric moisture must give 

 way in a proportionate degree. Still, 

 however, persist in permitting a consi- 

 derable increase of heat when the wea- 

 ther is bright. We need hardly say, 

 beware of burning at the root. The 

 advice applies to every month alike ; but 

 it requires a double amount of watchful- 

 ness for three weeks after disturbing the 

 fermenting material. 



November. In proportion to the dul- 

 ness of this month, the heat and mois- 

 ture must decline. The tan-bed will 

 require some renewal in the early part of 

 this month, in order to go well through 

 the winter ; and if the tan is mellow, or 

 somewhat dry, let it be well watered with 

 tepid water, and then stirred deeply with 

 a pointed stake, as deep as the stake can 



