JAN.] PINE-APPLES. 327 



be kept as near as possible to 65, mornings and 

 evenings; and in sunshine, on good days, it maybe 

 allowed to rise to about 70. 



Air should be admitted to a certain extent every 

 good day ; dividing the quantity admitted equally, 

 that there may be a regular circulation in all parts 

 of the pit. Even in hard frost, when the sun shines, 

 two or three of the lights should be slipped down, 

 to let the rarified air escape at top, and keep dow r n 

 the temperature to the degree stated above, or near 

 it. 



The plants will require very little water at this 

 time ; perhaps a little only once in eight or ten 

 days, or even at greater intervals, if the weather be 

 moist and hazy. It is safer, in winter, to give too 

 little, rather than too much water to pine plants ; 

 nor should they be watered over head at this season. 

 They should be watered in the forenoon of a sunny 

 day, at this time of the year, in order that any wa- 

 ter spilt on the bark, or in the hearts of the plants, 

 may be exhaled by the heat of the sun, and by an 

 extra quantity of air purposely admitted. This 

 precaution, however, is only necessary for the sake 

 of such crowns and suckers as have been struck 

 late last season, and are not very well rooted ; such 

 being more apt to damp off than others that are bet- 

 ter established. 



The pit should be carefully covered up soon after 

 sunset every evening, either with double mats, or 

 with a proper thick canvas cover, made on purpose 

 for it, and mounted on rollers. The cover should 

 be removed by sunrise in the morning, and should 



