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LIV. Some further Account of the Management of a Stove 

 for Tropical Plants, in which the use of Tan is entirely laid 

 aside ; with Directions for the Destruction of Insects in a 

 Hot-house. By William Kent, Esq. F. L. S. #c. 



Read February 2, 1819. 



Having had the experience of two winters of the improved 

 stove, since my former Paper upon it was communicated 

 to the Horticultural Society* I am now desirous of stating 

 the result. 



It will appear that I at first substituted saw-dust for tan, 

 conceiving it would last longer, and not breed worms. In 

 the first opinion I was correct, but I find that when the saw- 

 dust becomes rotten, worms generate as freely in it as in the 

 tan ; both therefore are objectionable on this account. Be- 

 sides which, when the pots are plunged, the roots of the 

 plants run through the bottom, and over the tops of the pots, 

 which always occasions a serious check to the plants, when- 

 ever they are removed, or require to be shifted. 



The pots in my stove having stood on the surface of the 

 saw-dust during the summer, I resolved to go through the 

 second winter without plunging; with this view I entirely 

 removed the saw-dust, and the apertures in the stone pave- 

 ment, which had been left for draining the pit, were carefully 

 stopped ; the bottom was then covered with coarse sand, 

 from six to eight inches deep, (cinder ashes might also an- 

 swer), over this was raised a temporary boarded stage, on 



* Sec Vol. ii. page 38Q. 



