15 



increase of solar heat. This is particularly the case 

 in France, which is favoured with a clearer sky. Half 

 the trouble in linings of dung, which are so necessary 

 in this country, is thus dispensed with. The linings 

 added to the bed of half-rotten leaves, before men- 

 tioned, are found to produce heat sufficient to induce 

 the plant to form roots. These are soon followed by 

 others into the mould on the surface of the bed, and 

 when this takes place, the rapidity of their growth 

 may easily be imagined. The principal attention they 

 require after being rooted, is to syringe them almost 

 daily with tepid water, and to keep up a humid at- 

 mosphere. As the plants advance in growth, the 

 frame must be raised to give them head room. 

 About the month of August, the plants will be large 

 enough to remove to their fruiting quarters, which at 

 Meudon, and at the Baron de Rothschild's, are a low- 

 roofed house or pit, just wide enough for containing 

 three rows of plants, with a walk at the back. This 

 is heated by flues or fire-heat, which, for plants of 

 that size, is equally as good as hot water, being only 

 intended for drying up the damp, and keeping up a 

 moderate warmth during the winter months. There 

 is no doubt, however, but hot water would be the best 

 for practising the above system in this country. The 

 floor of the house is filled in, to the depth of 1 6 or 

 18 inches, with the best soil that can be procured. 

 Loam is very difficult to obtain in the neighbourhood 



