26 FRUIT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



with sun-heat, the temperature at 8 p.m. may be 70°, 

 allowing it to sink to 65° by morning. 



For a few days after being shifted keep them 

 rather close, and the atmosphere moist, till they be- 

 gin to lay hold of the fresh soil. Then give a little 

 air daily as soon as the temperature exceeds 70 ; and 

 with steady sunshine the amount of air may be grad- 

 ually increased till 2 p.m., when it should be gradually 

 diminished according to the character of the day, and 

 shut up so as to run the heat up to 80° for a short 

 time before dark. There should not be any attempt 

 at causing a rapid growth till the days get longer and 

 the light more intense. The plants will root freely 

 into the fresh soil, from the increased bottom-heat 

 and the healthy irritable state of the roots, without 

 much perceptible top-growth for a time. 



There will not be any necessity for water at the 

 root for some time — not, certainly, tiU the early part 

 or middle of April, and even then water should not 

 be over liberally supplied. The experienced can tell 

 by the very appearance of the plants when they re- 

 quire it ; but the inexperienced should examine the soil 

 occasionally and apply water when it becomes dry a 

 few inches from the surface of the ball. Eain-water 

 is of course the best, and it should be heated to not 

 less than 80°, nor more than 85°. At this season it 

 is much safer to err on the side of giving a moderate 

 amount of water than to keep the soil too wet while 

 it is yet unoccupied with roots. The perspiratory or- 

 gans of the pine are not very active at any season ; and 

 as the plant partakes so much of a succulent nature, a 

 little extra moisture in the air is a much safer way 

 of preventing injury from drought than by applying 

 much water at the roots so early in the season. 



