OF THE PINE-APPLE. 



307 



at the same time the heat of the beds was per- 

 mitted to escape. 



Many powerful reasons may be given why oak- 

 leaves are preferable to tanners' bark. * 



First, They always heat regularly ; for during the 

 whole time that I have used them, which is near 

 twenty-five years, I never once knew of their 

 heating with violence ; and this is so frequently 

 the case with tan, that I affirm, and indeed it is 

 well known to every person conversant in the 

 management of the hot-house, that Pines suffer 

 more from this one circumstance than from all 

 other accidents put together, insects excepted. 

 When this accident happens near the time of their 

 fruiting, the effect is soon seen in the fruit, which 

 always comes ill-shaped and exceedingly small. 

 Sometimes there will be little or no fruit at all ; 

 therefore gardeners who make use of tan only for 

 their Pines, should be most particularly careful to 

 avoid an over-heat at that critical season — the 

 time of shewing fruit. 



Secondly, The heat of oak-leaves is constant ; 

 whereas, tanners' bark generally turns cold in a very 

 short time after its furious heat is gone off. This 



» I believe that oak-leaves are preferable to those of any 

 other sort ; but I have found, by repeated trials, that the leaves 

 of beech, Spanish chesnut, and hornbeam, will answer the 

 purpose very well. It seems that all leaves of a hard and firm 

 texture are very proper ; but soft leaves that soon decay, such 

 as lime, sycamore, ash, and of fruit trees in general, are very 

 unfit for this mode of practice. 



X 2 



