Book II. WOODY BARK-STOVE PLANTS. 92? 



6707. As soon as the month of September commences, it is time to think of getting the stoves ready for 

 their reception ; first, a quantity of fresh tan should be provided, sufficient to raise the bed at least six 

 inches above the kirb or wall of the pit, in conjunction with the best of the old already there, which is to be 

 extracted by shifting. Let the new tan be spread out to dry in ridges, upon some clean airy spot, or con- 

 venient yard, for two or three days, where it should be regularly turned twice or thrice a-day, and covered 

 with mats at night ; while this is preparing, let the flues of the house be well cleaned and the walls white- 

 washed ; an operation necessary to be done every year in these departments, where strong fires are kept 

 for such a length of time ; likewise, let the old tan be sifted in the common way, with a pretty coarse sieve 

 or riddle : some gardeners throw it entirely away, but the part sifted being mixed with the new, prevents 

 its heating so violently as it otherwise would when first put in ; it also tends to preserve a more regular 

 heat in the other longer than it naturally would if used by itself; as it would be very violent at first, and 

 consequently, like most other things that are worked up above their pitch, liable to be sooner exhausted 

 in proportion to the first foundation. 



6708. Having si/ted and got away all the refuse of the old tan, let the fresh, if well dried, be immediately 

 carried in, and both well mixed together in the pit ; still adding, until the bed is raised to the proper 

 height ; this done, let the wood and glass-work, kirbs, passages, &c, in short, every part of the house be 

 diligently washed ; for the twofold purpose of endeavoring to clear it as much as possible from insects, 

 as well as to give it a cleanly appearance : being thus prepared, the plants may be removed from the green- 

 house, observing to examine each of them diligently lest any of those plagues so often mentioned, should 

 find their way back to the stove. 



6709. Tfie pots must not be plunged in the tan at first j as well on account of the danger of the violent 

 heat injuring the roots, as because this early plunging might start them into a fresh growth; which, at 

 this late season, would not be at all to their advantage. They must, therefore, be set on the surface of 

 the tan in regular order, where they may stand twelve or fifteen days, or perhaps longer ; being guided in 

 this particular by the state of the atmosphere abroad, as well as the internal temperature of the heat in 

 the pit : by the first week in October, the heat of the external air will be considerably abated, and that 

 in the pit sufficiently moderate. The time for plunging being fixed on, observe to have it done in the 

 most exact manner, placing the tall plants towards the back or centre, and the lower ones to the front or 

 sides of the pit in regular order ; according to the form of the house, and the mode of arrangement 

 adopted. If sawdust is used, it will contribute much to their cleanliness, and also make a more agreeable 

 appearance than the tan. All being set to rights, and the passages, &c. swept clean, give the plants a 

 good syringing to wash off whatever dust they may have acquired during their removal, which will com- 

 plete the business for this time. The principal care afterwards for a few weeks, is to give them a reason- 

 able share of fresh air and water, according to the temperature of the weather ; but it is more proper to 

 perform the watering, syringing, and steaming, from this time to the beginning or middle of May, in 

 the forenoon ; observing to do it while the rays of the sun fall so obliquely as to ensure the plants from 

 being injured by it : should it be done in the evening, the air in the house would unavoidably get chilled, 

 especially in frosty weather. It is even necessary that the water used for this purpose should be nearly of 

 the same temperature as the air in the house. 



6710. About the middle of October, it will be necessary to add a little fire-heat at night, beginning with 

 slow fires at first, and regularly increasing them as the severities of the weather increase. Although a 

 circulation of fresh air is at all times requisite to the health of plants, yet the heat of the external atmo- 

 sphere will at this season be so much diminished that it will not be found convenient to admit it in any 

 considerable quantity ; in fact, none should be given, except on particular fine days, when the front or 

 end lights may be opened a few inches. They should be shut early in the day, seldom permitting them 

 to remain open longer than one o'clock ; thereby giving the sun time to warm the fresh-admitted air be- 

 fore the chill of the night commences ; even this little indulgence cannot be allowed from about the end 

 of October until the beginning of April : as the strong cold winds which generally blow during the winter 

 months find of themselves but too many entrances. 



6711. As to ivatering in the autumn, discontinue it to those plants plunged in the pit, as the moisture of the 

 tan, added to that which proceeds from the syringe, will be found quite sufficient for most of them ; on 

 the contrary, those over the flues, or on the shelves or kirbs near the fires, will require an additional por- 

 tion on account of the strong fires necessary to be kept when the weather happens to be severe. The use 

 of the syringe and steam must also be stopped in the severest frosts, lest by that means the house should 

 get over chilled ; however, they may both be used freely, when the weather proves moderately mild and 

 fine; but by no means is it to be understood, that the house at this time is to be kept in a continual mist ; 

 or, on the other hand, that the plants are not to be carefully examined as usual, and watered liberally 

 when in want of it. It is necessary to notice that those plants which are inclined to be deciduous, and 

 also some of the more tender ones, will be occasionally dropping part of their leaves ; these should be 

 picked off as soon as they appear, otherwise they will have rather a disagreeable appearance among the 

 plants. 



6712. Winter treatment. About the middle or end of December, it will be necessary 

 to have the tan in the pit turned, and renovated with a little fresh well-dried bark to en- 

 liven the heat, as the severest part of the season is still to be expected ; however, in per- 

 forming this work, great care is required that the plants are not chilled or injured by 

 being removed out of the tan-bed at this cold season : therefore, the mildest weather 

 must be chosen for performing this operation. The pit being cleared, immediately 

 proceed to turn over and mix the old and new tan well together, in which, as soon as it 

 is completed and levelled fit to receive the pots, they may be plunged without delay ; as 

 there is not that certain danger of a burning heat ascending now as in the summer 

 months, in which season the powerful action of the sun occasions it to ascend more 

 violently. 



6713. Plunging the pots. Should it not be convenient to have the whole plunged the same day, those 

 left will require "to be set on the surface of the tan during night ; lest by being left near the glass, or ex- 

 treme parts of the house, they might be severely injured ere the morning by the cold air ; as it is therefore 

 advisable to keep them as short a time as possible out of the tan at this season, they shoulu without fail 

 be plunged the next or following day at farthest : it will be also requisite to keep a pretty brisk fire-heat 

 in the house, while the plants are out of the tan, and until the bottom heat m the pit becomes sufficiently 

 strong; else they will be liable thereby to droop, and lose many of their leaves in consequence of being 

 checked at this season. Should it happen that a series of clear fine weather follows this operation the 

 action of the sun may possibly occasion the heat to rise rather violent in course of a few days after being 

 renewed: to this particular attention must be paid, and if any such symptom should appear, it must be 

 immediately remedied by lifting the pots out of their places, and throwing into the holes a small quantity 

 of the surface tan ; on which the pots may be again set in a loose manner; thus, by permitting the heat 

 to pass freely off by the sides of the pots, it prevents its burning the earth or roots, which would be certain 

 death to the plants : when its violence has subsided, let the pit. be levelled, and pots properly replunged: 

 but unless the weather, as already noticed, happens to be particularly clear, in all likelihood this labor will 

 not be encountered. 



