392 THE FORCING GARDEN. [MAY. 



ing covered about an inch with fresh earth), as the 

 whole will settle about as much, and so leave a full 

 inch for holding water, which is enough. 



In preparing the plants for potting, observe to 

 twist off a few of the bottom leaves, as they always 

 put out fine roots from the lower part of the stem. 

 Also, before letting the plant out of hand, trim off 

 the points of any leaves that may have been bruised 

 or anywise injured in the shifting. 



Replunge the pots to the brim, as before, ob- 

 serving to keep them quite level, at the distance of 

 fifteen inches from centre" to centre of the plants on 

 a medium ; then, give a little water, which need not 

 be repeated till the heat rise to the pots. 



If the season be mild, and particularly if the si- 

 tuation of the pinery be sheltered, fire-heat may 

 now be unnecessary, especially after the bark bed 

 comes into a proper state of fermentation. The 

 thermometer, however, should be kept at 68 or 

 70 in the night, either by the flues, or by mat- 

 ting. 



When the heat in the bark bed has risen to the 

 pots, the plants should have a full watering at root, 

 and be dewed over the leaves to clean them of dust, 

 &c. As the plants will now grow vigorously, they 

 must be regularly and plentifully supplied once in 

 three days ; always giving the proper quantity at 

 root, and then a dewing over the leaves. Water 

 frequently with the drainings of the dunghil, as al- 

 ready often advised. 



Air must be freely admitted every day, and in 

 the manner already frequently spoken of in tRe for- 



