FORCING DEPARTMENT. 388 



fresh dung and leaves to the linings, in order to 

 keep up the thermometer during the nights to about 

 65 degrees, at which temperature the succession pit 

 is regulated, as near as possible, throughout the 

 Winter; although, in very severe weather, the ther- 

 mometer often falls under 60 degrees. During the day, 

 the influence of the sun will have but very little 

 power in raising the internal atmosphere of the bed ; 

 but, notwithstanding, a portion of fresh air is daily 

 admitted, often merely for a few minutes, in order 

 that it may displace the foul or stagnant air that 

 may have collected from the fermenting substances. 

 The plants will require scarcely any water during 

 the three Winter months ; they should, however, 

 be looked over occasionally ; and any that appear in a 

 dry state, should have a little water given ; but the 

 cold or frosty temperature must be taken off previ- 

 ously to the watering of the plants. About the middle 

 of March, there is a general shifting of the plants, 

 and renewing of the beds in the pits ; but before this 

 operation is commenced, a quantity of the prepared 

 soil is got in readiness, and frequently turned in an 

 open shed to dry, and, likewise, a quantity of bones 

 is broken to small pieces, for the purpose of putting 

 into the bottom of the pots for drainage, which are 

 placed about one inch thick for the small plants, and 

 about two inches for the large or fruiting sized ones. 

 The young roots seem to derive much nourishment 

 from the broken bones, and are found entwined 

 round them to a greater extent than round any other 

 substance used for carrying off the superfluous mois- 

 ture. When the pots and these materials are all got 



