Jan»] THE FORCING GARDEN. 571 



which will supply the plants till furnished with more by the 

 same means, or till more favorable weather. Indeed, there 

 is much more injury done to the plants, by being too long 

 confined in a close unwholesome atmosphere, than by allow- 

 ing fresh air into the bed, should it even lower the tem- 

 perature 5° or 10°. Little water will be required at their roots 

 at this season, once in twelve or fifteen days will be often 

 enough, even where fire-heat is used. Still it will be neces- 

 sary not to fix any precise time for watering, but to perform it 

 accordingly as the plants may require it. Those which stand 

 next the flues may require it oftener ; and such as are strong 

 and vigorous will require some water, while others that are 

 not so luxuriant may thrive without any, even for a greater 

 length of time. This is a matter of some importance, and 

 therefore the plants should be examined, at least once a week, 

 at this season, and only then, such as may really want it should 

 be watered. Jt is better to give a little and often, than to de- 

 luge them at once, and leave them for a week or two without 

 any water 



In watering pines during the winter, some of the best cul- 

 tivators apply it from 80° to 85° of heat, and some much 

 warmer. Water applied to their roots, or over the leaves, 

 in a cold state, is evidently a bad practice ; we should think 

 a pretty good criterion might be fixed, by applying the 

 water at, or a little above the temperature of the air of the 

 house. Even in summer, >vater should be exposed to the in- 

 fluence of the sun for some time previously to its being used, 

 or rendered mildly warm by the addition of a portion of water 

 heated for the purpose. It is, perhaps, not going too far to 

 suppose, that cold water applied to the roots, or over the 

 leaves of plants, while exposed to a temperature of from 80 

 to 100 degrees of heat, produces effects somewhat analogous 

 to persons drinking it while they are in a state of high per- 

 spiration. 



Those pits, however, which are wholly heated by means of 

 fermenting matter alone, will not require watering so often, as a 

 considerable moisture will be supplied from the materials un- 

 dergoing the process of fermentation. To promote a still 



