49 



as it undergoes a slower putrid fermentation than 

 foreign tan ; and is rendered less fit for supplying the 

 plants with food. In old^ decayed tan, the plants 

 make Yery little progress ; the fruit also is of inferior 

 size. Foreign tan is objectionable, as it soon decays. 

 When pine plants are turned out into the tan in the 

 winter season, their growth is so rapid, that, except 

 they haye plenty of air and light, the young leayes 

 are apt to blanch. For seyeral weeks after planting, 

 the surface of the tan ought to be frequently stirred 

 with a rake or long stick, to preyent any fungous 

 breeding, to effect the escape of the superabundant 

 bottom heat, to allow the atmosphere to haye free ac- 

 cess to the roots, and to keep the tan in a clean, pure 

 state. (Hamilton on Pine Apple, 62.) 



Mr. J. Gray, of Esher, for fruiting the same plant 

 for seyeral successiye years, instead of raising a fresh 

 stock annually, says, the pit in which they are grown 

 should not be less than 10 feet wide, and should be 

 built in diyisions of fiye lights each ; the frame-work 

 being also so constructed that the part belonging to 

 each diyision could be raised separately when required. 

 The thickness of the wall at back and front should be 

 4 inches, with only a pigeon-hole occasionally along 

 the bottom, to allow the water to drain from the in- 

 terior of the pit. Within the outer wall, and at about 

 4 inches from it, another wall, a foot less in height, 

 should be raised ; the cayity between being intended 



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