386 FORCING DEPARTMENT. 



and flourish most luxuriantly when the bottom heat 

 is regulated to about milk-warm temperature, or 

 little more. When the pots have been all again 

 plunged to the rims in the bed ofleaves, the pits are 

 shaded for a few days from the violence of the mid- 

 day sun ; and when the plants have begun to throw 

 out fresh roots in the new soil., they are kept well 

 supplied with liquid manure, and more frequently 

 watered over the leaves, particularly in hot sultry 

 weather. 



The season is, in general, getting warm and 

 favourable for vegetation, by the months of May or 

 June ; the atmosphere of the pits will, in all proba- 

 bility, be kept during the nights, from the effects of the 

 external dung linings, above 70 degrees, without hav- 

 ing recourse to the covering of bass-matts ; these may, 

 therefore, at this period, be dispensed with, due atten- 

 tion being paid, however, to the state of the weather, 

 and the internal atmosphere of the bed. The thermo- 

 meter, during the day, in hot sunshine, often varies 

 from 90 to 100 degrees, and upwards; but when 

 the mercury exceeds the latter point, large admis- 

 sions of air must be given, and the plants kept in a 

 humid state, by syringing over their leaves in the 

 morning and evening, which will induce an exhala- 

 tion to arise from the surface of the bed of fermenting 

 substances, that is very conducive to the health and 

 vigour of the plants. If duly supplied thus with 

 regular proportions of heat, water, and air, the Pines 

 will have made a rapid progress in their growth, and 

 many of them will be in a sufficient state of strength 

 by October, for producing good fruit the ensuing 



