Sept.] THE HOT-HOUSE. 511 
All your succession pines should have plenty of air at this sea- 
son, which, with a moderate and steady bottom heat, will keep them 
in a growing and prosperous state, but by no means are they to be 
forced too much nor too much confined, as by such treatment some 
of the most forward might start into fruit at an untimely season, 
and all would be rendered more unfit to bear the vicissitudes of 
the winter season than if they were properly inured to the air and 
gradually hardened; but still there may be an excess in this as well 
as the other, both of which are equally to be avoided. 
Procuring fresh Tan. 
About the latter end of this month you should procure a quantity 
of fresh tan from the tan-yards for the purpose of making new beds 
in the next month for those plants which you expect to produce 
fruit in the ensuing year, and also for the succession pines. When 
the tan is brought home it will be proper to throw it up in a heap 
to drain and ferment for ten or twelve days before it is put into the 
pits. But if it is very wet, as is commonly the case when thrown 
up out of the tan-vats, it should be spread thinly for two or three 
days, that the sun and air may draw ott" or exhale the superabundant 
moisture; for if used too wet, it would be a long time before it 
would acquire a sufficient degree of heat. 
Prepare Composts. 
The composts proper for pines are described in page 456, and if 
you have not hitherto prepared such as may be wanted next season, 
that business should be delayed no longer. 
For most of the shrubby tribe and herbaceous plants of the hot- 
house prepare equal parts of good light garden earth and mellow 
surface loam from a rich pasture ground, with the turf; add to 
these a fourth of very rotten or old hot-bed dung, and let the 
whole be duly incorporated and exposed to the weather several 
months before it is used, turning the heap over every five or sis 
■weeks. 
