FORCING DEPARTMENT. 368 



potting. They should have nearly half an inch of 

 the soil put over them as a covering, and be placed 

 at regular distances around the edges of the pots, 

 which will enable each to be removed, when neces- 

 sary, with a little ball of earth attached to its roots. 

 As soon as they are potted, a sprinkling of water 

 should be given, to settle the soil about them, and the 

 pots then plunged in the hot-bed previously made 

 for their reception. 



The temperature of the frame may be regulated at 

 from 55 to 60 degrees; but fresh air should be 

 admitted daily in great abundance, particularly 

 when the buds begin to swell, which will prevent 

 the young shoots from being drawn up in a weak or 

 languid state. The atmosphere of the bed will 

 require to be kept up by external linings of fresh 

 dung, until the nights begin to get warm ; and the 

 mould, in the pots, kept in a moderate state of mois- 

 ture by occasional watering. 



When the plants have advanced in growth from 8 

 to 10 inches, they should be removed into single 

 pots, with great care, lest the tender shoots, or 

 young roots be injured in the operation. When 

 re-potted, they must be re-plunged in the hot- 

 bed, and frequently supplied with water and 

 liquid manure, which will greatly invigorate their 

 growth, and induce them to make good roots be- 

 fore Winter, at which season they will require to 

 be carefully protected from frost as well as from too 

 much wet. The plants thus raised, will be ready to 

 plant out with advantage the ensuing Spring, where 

 they may be intended to perfect their fruit. Those 

 3 B 



