228 



A DISCOURSE 



BOOK III. Willow quite out of its place; of which a pretty emblem might be 

 ^"^'^'^r-'^^ couceived. But I pursue these instances no farther. 



The fallen leaves of trees in woods, which lie sometimes very thick and 

 deep, should be raked and shovelled up ; being dry, are very useful for 

 the covering of tender kitchen-garden plants, in winter, instead of litter ; 

 and the rest, if buried in some hole to rot, when dried and reduced to 

 powder, become excellent mould. I wonder this husbandly is so much 

 neglected y. 



y Mr. Speedily, gardener to his grace the Duke of Portland, has, by his grace's orders, 

 communicated to me the following curious and interesting account of the use of Oak-leaves 

 in hot-houses : 



" . I presume that the leaves of the Oak abound with the same quality 



as the bark of the tree, therefore, the sooner they are raked up after they fall from the 

 trees, the better, as that quality will naturally decrease during the time they are exposed 

 to the weather. After being raked into heaps they should immediately be carried 

 to some place near the hot-houses, where they must lie to couch. I generally fence them 

 round with charcoal-hurdles, or any thing else, to keep them from being blown about 

 the garden in windy weather. In this place we tread them well, and water them in case 

 they happen to have been brought in dry. We make the heap six or seven feet in thick- 

 ness, covering it over with old mats, or any thing elsej to prevent the upper leaves from 

 being blown away. In a few days the heap will come to a strong heat. For the first year 

 or two that I used these leaves, I did not continue them in the heap longer than ten days 

 or a fortnight ; but in this 1 discovered a considerable inconvenience, as they settled so 

 much when got into the hot-house, as soon to require a supply. Taught by experience, 

 I now let them remain in the heap for five or six weeks, by which time they are properly 

 prepared for the hot-houses. In getting them into the Pine-pits, if they appear dry, we 

 water them again, treading them in layers exceedingly well, till the pits are quite full. 

 We then cover the whole with tan to the thickness of two inches, and tread it well till 

 the surface becomes smooth and even. On this we place the Pine-pots in the manner they 

 are to stand, beginning with the middle row first, and filling up the spaces between the pots 

 with tan. In like manner, we proceed to the next row till the whole be finished ; and this 

 operation is performed in the same manner as when tan 0«/y is used. 



After this, the leaves require no farther trouble the whole season through, as they 

 will retain a constant and regular heat for twelve months without either stirring or turn- 

 ing ; and if I may form a judgment from their appearance when taken out, (being always 

 entire and perfect) it is probable they would continue their heat through a second year: 

 but as an annual supply of leaves is here easily obtained, such a trial is hardly worth the 

 trouble of making. 



" After this, the Pines will have no occasion to be moved but at the stated times of 

 their management, viz. at the shifting them in their pots, &c. when at each time a little 



