PIN 



PIN 



two inches in depth, all over, and level j 

 with the rim of the pot. Let there be j 

 no tapping or thumping the bottom of | 

 the pot on the bench. If the balls of 

 the pines about to be shifted are dry, j 

 Avater them, at least three days before j 

 they are to be shifted, with tepid ma- 

 nure Avater, in order to allow the I 

 moisture to equalise itself, and the 

 surplus to pass away. Thus there will 

 be no occasion for any root-Avatering 

 for nearly a month after shifting. The 

 plants may be plunged immediately 

 they are shifted ; but let them by 110 

 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 Avill be a benefit for a couple 

 of hours each day; not, hoAvever, to 

 obstruct light, but rather to prevent 

 the too rapid dispersion of atmospheric 

 moisture. 



Stove. For the construction of this, 

 see Hothouse and Pit. 



Table of Temperature as to Artificial 

 Heat only. 



Day. Night. R{se n 



January 



Febru 



Marcl 



April 



May 



June 



July 



August 



Septem 



Octobei 



Noveml 



Deceml 



Tables of this kind must not be 

 ah 1 owed to guide the thermometer en- 

 tirely. A good cultivator Avill 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 days. 



For bottom heat, by adding o to every 

 one of the above artificial day tempera- 

 tures, Ave 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 

 culture. 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 

 thermometer by all means employed. 

 The bottom heat here given is meant 

 to apply to the heat at the bottom of 

 the pot. Whilst practitioners are driven 

 to capricious fermenting materials as a 

 source of bottom heat, an excess of 

 heat will sometimes become necessary 

 inside the bed, in order to provide some- 

 what against sudden declines. Let, 

 then, the operator secure the bottom 

 heat as per table at the bottom of the 

 pot, and all will be right. 



If the heat rises above the desired 

 point, let water be instantly employed 

 as a cooler betAveen the pots ; and if 

 this does not immediately check it suf- 

 ficiently, let the pots forth with be rocked 

 to and fro in the bed, until a fair cavity 

 is obtained between the tan and the 

 pot side ; and when the heat has de- 

 clined to the desired pitch the cavity 

 may be filled up again. 



Let atmospheric moisture be liberally 

 employed, especially from three o'clock 

 1 in the afternoon until eight or nine the 

 i next morning. A slight syringing may 

 i be applied on every afternoon about 

 i closing time, taking care that at tins 

 ! time (February} it is dispersed on the 

 i following morning by a liberal heat 

 ; and a free ventilation. Air must be 

 j given daily, if only for an hour ; during 

 j all moderate weather a little may be 

 1 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 gain- 

 ; ing much power, and the amount of 

 perspiration from the foliage will be 

 much increased; let, therefore, a cor- 

 responding increase take place in the 

 amount of atmospheric moisture. Shad- 

 ing may be employed for a couple of 

 j hours or so in the middle of very 

 i sunny days with some benefit. Syring- 

 | ing the surface of the tan is an excel- 

 j lent plan. If the wind is very cutting, 

 be very cautious in the admission of 

 ! air; the front sashes may be kept 

 j closed, and, if sunny, the shade applied, 

 j merely letting a little of the surplus 

 heat escape at back. 



April. In proportion to rapidity of 



