390 FORCING DEPARTMENT. 



turned over to about half its depth, and got in 

 readiness for the reception of the plants, which 

 are again plunged in this bed, that still retains a 

 moderate heat, very beneficial to the roots, as faci- 

 litating their striking into the fresh loam. As 

 one of the fruiting compartments here is always oc- 

 cupied at this season by the late fruit, the plants 

 intended for it are again placed in the succes- 

 sion pit, until November; but those brought into 

 the fruiting house in October are kept in a humid 

 state, by pouring water on the paths and hot- 

 water pipes, &c. and the temperature is regulated 

 at 65 degrees, mornings and evenings ; and from 75 

 to 80 through the day, by the influence of the sun. 

 The supplies of water to the roots must now be pro- 

 portionably decreased, according to the state of the 

 external atmosphere. 



About the beginning of November, when the Oak- 

 tree leaves can be procured in abundance, the plants 

 are again taken out of the beds, and the pits cleared of 

 all the decayed leaves, and re-filled with fresh ones ; 

 those from the Oak-tree are, unquestionably, the 

 best for this purpose, and will retain their heat, 

 when kept free from too much damp, for upwards of 

 two years, by having a few fresh ones intermixed 

 with them. In the Frufting Pineries here, there is, 

 at present, a quantity of these leaves, which has 

 been in use for three seasons. In filling the pits in 

 the Pineries, the old and recent leaves should be 

 well mixed and turned together, and the bed trod as 

 firmly as they will admit, and raised as high as will 

 merely allow the plants to stand on its surface with- 



