MAR.] PINE-APPLES. 363 



and a dewing over head occasionally, to refresh the 

 leaves, and keep them clean from dust. From the, 

 time the plants are out of flower, and the fruit be- 

 gin to swell, water must be applied in a very liberal 

 manner once in two or three days, always giving the 

 necessary quantity at root, and then a dewing over 

 head. Watering to this extent, however, if the fruit 

 be not in too forward a state, will seldom be ne- 

 cessary before the end of the month, or till April. 



The temperature should be kept up to from 72 

 to 75 with fire heat, admitting air regularly, and 

 in as large portions as the state of the weather will 

 allow. In sunshine, admit air so freely as to keep 

 down the thermometer to 80, or even, after a con* 

 tinuation of dull weather, to the fire-heat medium. 

 From the middle or end of the month, the sashes 

 may be opened, in good steady weather, by nine in 

 the morning ; the quantity of air may be increased 

 by ten or eleven, reduced again by one or two, shut- 

 ting up about three or four, according to the state 

 of the atmosphere. 



HOT-BEDS. 



Of forcing Cucumbers and Melons. 



If no accident have happened to the cucumber 

 and melon plants, raised as directed last month, they 

 will soon be fit for transplanting into ridging-beds, 

 as they are termed, that is, into beds where they are 

 finally to remain, and produce fruit. I advised the 



