290 



ON THE CULTURE 



pose as well ; but fires made with the latter require 

 a great deal more attendance. 



In the months of October, November, and great 

 part of December, the hot-house will require very 

 small fires, as I already have observed. The ad- 

 vantages of keeping the stove in a cool state during 

 that part of the season are very apparent. A mo- 

 derate fire made in an evening will then be quite 

 sufficient ; and when it begins to burn pretty brisk, 

 it will be proper to cover it over with ashes taken 

 from under the grate, (supposing the fire made 

 with coal,) which will cause it to give a moderate 

 heat through the greatest part of the night, pro- 

 vided the external air be well excluded from the 

 fire-place, which is a point essentially necessary to 

 be observed. And if the morning should be severe, 

 no danger need be apprehended if the spirits in the 

 thermometer be up within two or three degrees of 

 the point marked temperate. 



In the months of January and February, 

 stronger fires will be requisite, as the Pines then 

 demand a kinder treatment : but I shall here ob- 

 serve, that then, as well as at all times, be the 

 weather ever so severe, it will be imprudent to 

 make excessive strong fires : excess of fire cracks 

 the flues, and causes them soon to go out of repair, 

 after which the same quantity of fuel will not 

 have the same effect ; besides, when once the flue 

 becomes cracked, it will admit the smoke into the 

 house, to the great detriment of the plants con- 

 tained in it. 



