34 



shifting, the remainder may be taken out of the 

 tan, and set on any of the shelves, or benches 

 that are over the flues, so as to allow sufficient 

 room to have it forked up and turned ; and 

 should it be sunk considerably below the desired 

 height, some fresh well dried tan should be ad- 

 ded, and mixed well with the old in turning ; 

 when done, let it be made pretty level with a 

 rake that the plants may be conveniently, and 

 regularly set on the surface when shifted. 



Where tan is scarce there are other materials 

 which answer as excellent substitutes ; fresh ga^ 

 thered leaves, for instance : hot stable dung 

 well prepared as for the common hot bed, with 

 a covering of Ian or saw dust sufficiently deep 

 to receive the pots : in Bedfordshire there is a 

 species of peat earth, which, when collected 

 into large masses, heats so strongly as to pre- 

 vent all vegetation on the top; and this heat 

 continues for several months, and I have no 

 doubt would answer well for forcing and in 

 hot houses. 



In shifting the plant, the greatest nicety 

 should be used not to injure the roots ; be- 

 cause, if the roots, from a multiplicity of 

 wounds, (which are more frequently lacerated 



