780 



IHE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



[Dec. 



DECEMBER. 



GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF PINE-PLANTS. 



I'ho rules laid down last month respecting the different com- 

 partments of the pines, should, during the present one, be 

 duly attended to. A steady temperature now is necessary, as 

 well as attention to the proper supplies of water and air ; the 

 former of which should be given as necessity may require, but 

 not to an excess at this season, when the plants are almost 

 in a dormant state. Air, however, should be admitted on all 

 fiivorable occasions. 



Such of the pits as are wrought by dung-heat, should be care- 

 fidly attended to, in order that their linings be sufficiently 

 powerful to keep up the necessary temperature within the pits, 

 and that they should be regularly covered up every night, 

 carefully disposing of the ends of the mats, so as not to be 

 left hanging over the linings, which would be apt to confine 

 the too powerful steam within to the injury of the plants, as 

 well as preventing the free escape of the steam from the ex- 

 ternal linings, and conveying it into the pits. Avoid covering 

 up too soon in the aflernoon, unless the heat in the pits be 

 rather low, and take the covering off every morning by sun- 

 rise, in order that the plants may enjoy as much light as pos- 

 sible. When snow is fiilling, or has fallen throughout the 

 preceding night, it should be carefully swept off as it falls ; 

 for if the plants be long excluded from the light and permitted 

 to remain long covered with snow, they will consequently 

 suffer according to the length of time in which they are so 

 precluded from the light of the sun. It is indeed true, that 

 in countries such as Russia, the pine-pits and houses are often 

 covered for weeks during winter, when the thermometer is 

 20° below zero, with mats and even boards to prevent the 

 weight of snow which has fallen upon them from breaking in 

 the roof-glass, and the plants are af\cr all brought to pretty 

 good perfection ; but as we live in a more temperate climate, 



