Jdly.] the hot-house. 459 
fill up around the ball with more of the compost, and let the top 
thereof be covered with it an inch deep. 
In this manner let the whole be shifted and immediately water- 
ed, then plunge them again into the bark-bed. 
Previous to plunging the pots, the bark-bed must first be stirred 
up to the bottom to revive the declining heat, observing at the same 
time to add about one-third or at least one-fourth of new tan 
thereto, if the old is much wasted, become earthy, or not likely to 
produce a suflicient degree of bottom heat to promote the fresh 
rooting and growth of the plants. 
Care of the various Hot-House Plants. 
The general care and propagation of the various exotics of the 
hot-house department, are the same now as directed in May and 
June, and therefore unnecessary to be repeated; but it would be 
very proper at this time to refresh the earth in the top of the pots 
or tubs, as directed in page 454, and also to shift such of the plants 
as require it. The hibiscus rosa sinensis, vinca rosea, plumeria 
rubra, allamanda cathartica, asclepias curassavica, lantanas, bego- 
nias, &c., may now be easily propagated by cuttings, and where 
an increase of the various kinds is wanted, that business ought not 
to be delayed to a later period, that the cuttings may have time to 
become well rooted before winter; nor should you despair of being 
able to propagate any kind of tree or shrub by cuttings; for with 
due care there are few but may be increased that way, especially 
with the assistance of bell-glasses and a suitable bottom heat. 
The Moving Plant, or Sensitive Hedysarum. 
The Hedysarum gyrans, or moving plant, that extraordinary 
phenomenon of the hot-house department, is peculiarly worthy the 
attention of every curious observer. Mr. Aitt)n in his Hortus 
Kewensis, describes it as a biennial plant, and Swartz, as an an- 
nual; but it has survived several years in that inestimable collec- 
tion, the property of William Hamilton, Esq., of the Woodlands, 
near Philadelphia, whose variety of rare plants surpass by far, any 
other on this side the Atlantic, and perhaps any private collection 
in Europe. 
The singular motion with which the lateral leaflets or appendi- 
cles of this plant are endued, is thus described in Linnseus's sup- 
plement. 
"This is a wonderful plant on account of its voluntary motion, 
which is not occasioned by any touch, irritation, or movement in 
the air, as in the mimosa, oxalis, and dionsea; nor is it so evanes- 
cent as in amorpha. No sooner had the plants raised from seed, 
acquired their ternatc leaves, than they begun to be in motion this 
way and that; this movement did not cease during the whole course 
of their vegetation, nor were they observant of any time, order or 
direction; one leaflet frequently revolved, whilst the other on the 
same petiole was quiescent; sometimes a few leaflets only were in 
