380 FORCING DEPARTMENT. 



mild and congenial temperature, about six inches 

 of leaf-mould are spread over its surface, and the pots 

 are plunged therein along the back of the pit ; the 

 crowns, and small suckers, are planted in the leaf- 

 mould, on the surface of the bed, towards the front 

 of the pit, observing always to keep the largest at 

 the back, and placing them at such distances apart 

 as the size of the suckers and crowns will admit, but 

 so as not to be too crowded. After they are all 

 arranged, a syringing with soft water is freely given, 

 in order to settle the leaf-mould, and clear the plants 

 from any dust which they have collected. The 

 atmosphere of the pit is now kept from 80 to 100 

 degrees, and neither air nor water given, until they 

 begin to emit fresh roots, when these elements are 

 gradually increased, and freely administered as the 

 plants expand in the herb. While they are striking 

 root, the pits are covered daily a few hours with 

 thin or old bass mats, which lessen the effects of the 

 mid-day sun. The moisture arising from the bed 

 and external dung linings, will afford considerable 

 nourishment to the plants whilst rooting ; but they 

 are afterwards copiously syringed over head, and 

 liquid manure supplied to the roots, which invigo- 

 rates their growth ; and the temperature of the pit is 

 kept up to nearly 80 degrees during the night, and 

 from 95 to 100 degrees in the middle of the day, 

 when sunshine excites the plants into a rapid grow- 

 ing state. About the first week of September the 

 supplies of water are begun to be decreased, as well 

 as the temperature of the pit. The nights at this 

 time getting rather cold and damp, it is more advi- 



