THE FORCING-PIT. 237 



inside, close to the walls, embracing a pit or bed 

 of tanner s bark, leaves, or well prepared stable 

 dung;. It adds much to its convenience to have 

 a narrow path in front, as well as at the back 

 of the tan-pit within ; and which requires to be 

 pretty deep, in order to allow head-room in 

 placing and attending to the plants. The pots 

 of plants to be forced are previously prepared 

 in the autumn, and are set on or plunged in a 

 surface-layer of dry saw-dust, laid on the fer- 

 menting material, soon as the heat is sufficiently 

 moderate. They should be as near the glass as 

 their height or growth will allow ; the strongest 

 light and freshest air are necessary, as well to 

 give strength as colour and scent to the flowers. 

 The sashes are moveable, for the purpose of 

 giving air; and which is admitted, more or less, 

 as the heat in the bed, or weather, allows. Fire- 

 heat is only used when that of the bed has 

 declined, or when a covering of straw mats, or 

 common Russia mats, is insufficient to keep out 

 frost. Besides being particularly suitable for 

 forcing early flowers, it is also a fit place to 



