5G4 THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. [Jan. 



that the plants are plunged in them for the last time, that is, 

 from the time that they are shifted into full-sized pots, until 

 they ripen off their fruit ; and the same quantity of leaves, 

 without addition, will continue their heat during twelve 

 months, if turned over twice or thrice a year, or at such times 

 as may be most convenient, when the plants are taken out for 

 re-potting. 



Pines are also successfully cultivated, without either tan or 

 fire-heat, by means of dung only; for which purpose, beds 

 are made of dung, after being properly prepared by fermenting 

 and turning, and erected as is usually done for cucumbers, 

 and a frame placed upon it similar to those used for growing 

 that fruit, but of such dimensions as are suited to the size of 

 the plants, whether they be nursing, succession, or fruiting. 

 The pines are plunged in these beds as in the tan-beds, and 

 managed accordingly. When the bottom heat declines, linings 

 of hot dung are applied, in the usual way, to promote a con- 

 tinuance of heat ; and when the whole mass becomes too much 

 decayed, and too compact for the heat of the linings to pene- 

 trate freely, the plants are removed into others similarly' pre- 

 pared for their reception. By this simple means, pines have 

 been grown equally well with those in expensive and lofty 

 pine-stoves, and at a considerably less expense. Beds built 

 of fagots, and covered with fifteen or eighteen inches of tan, 

 leaves or saw-dust, and heated by means of external linings, 

 answer equally well. 



Dung-heat and fire-heat combined have been used by Mr. 

 Jenkins of the Portman nursery, for several years. The 

 heat imparted to the plants is by him produced from the fer- 

 mentation of rank stable-dung, not at all prepared previously to 

 using, in a vault below the plants ; the top of which vault is 

 covered with thin tiles, supported by means of iron-bearers. 

 The joints of the tiles are closely cemented, to prevent the 

 steam from getting into the house. The pots, in which the 

 plants grow, stand upon the tiles without being plunged in 

 either tan, or any other material ; the heat penetrates through 

 the tiles, and is found to warm the atmosphere of the house 

 sufficiently for cultivating these plants. However well this 

 plan has hitherto succeeded, there is no doubt but that if the 



