382 FORCING DEPARTMENT. 



moved, and all the old and exhausted leaves thrown 

 out of the pit, when the fresh ones are now substi- 

 tuted, well trod, and raised so that the plants can 

 merely stand on the surface of the bed, without the 

 lights breaking or injuring their leaves when put on. 

 The pots must not be plunged at this time, as the 

 violent heating of the new leaves would materially 

 injure the roots; and if hurt at this period, it will 

 prove very injurious to the plants, as they will be in 

 a great measure destitute of roots to support them, 

 until the return of the growing season, when they 

 will push out fresh ones. 



A considerable saving of materials and labour is 

 gained by putting in and forming the bed in the pit 

 with the new leaves, as soon as they fall from the 

 trees, which prevents them from being scattered 

 about the ground through the Winter, and their sub- 

 stances partially exhausted before they are formed 

 into a bed for the reception of the plants ; and, 

 consequently, their heating qualities not lost, 

 by being collected in a large body, and allowed 

 to ferment out of doors, as is the general practice. 

 But when they are made up into a bed, while in a 

 recent state, the heat arising from them, during the 

 severest parts of the season when they are ferment- 

 ing, will considerably increase the temperature 

 within the pits, and render requisite a less con- 

 sumption of dung for linings, than would otherwise 

 be called for to keep up the atmosphere for the pre- 

 servation of the plants. The crowns and suckers 

 rooting in the nursing bed, are to be duly attended 

 to, by giving air, by frequent turning and adding 



