572 THE HOT-HOUSE. [Nor. 
often, or how much at a time, ought to be administered; however 
it will be safer to give a little and often, than too much at a time, 
which should now be administered in the forenoon of fine days, that 
the damp may pass off before the windows are shut, lest the steam 
occasioned thereby might create a mouldiness, and injure the plants. 
Pick off all decayed leaves from the plants, and throw them out 
of the house; for if they are suffered to remain in it, they will rot 
and infect the air, which foul effluvia being imbibed by the plants, 
will infect them also, and bring on disease and vermin. 
Examine the tubs and pots occasionally, and if the earth cakes or 
binds at top, loosen it to a moderate depth; and where decayed 
branches or shoots occur, prune them off as soon as observed, and 
cast them out of the house. 
The myrtles and other plants which are in frames, or pits, must 
now be duly attended to, in like manner as those in the Green-House. 
The frames or pits, to the full height of the glasses, must be lined 
round with horse-dung, leaves, straw, fern or the like, to keep the 
frost from penetrating in at the sides and ends; the plants must have 
plenty of fresh air at all favourable opportunities, and be effectually 
protected at night and in frosty weather, by laying a sufficient co- 
vering of mats, straw, boards, &c. over the glasses, observing not 
to deprive them of the benefit of light but while absolute necessity 
requires it. 
Preserving tender Bulbs, Sfc. 
As some persons who have not the convenience of a Hot-House, 
may be desirous of having some tender exotic bulbous and tuberous 
rooted plants, such as Crinums, Pancratiums, Arums, Amomum 
Zinziber, or true ginger, Sec. These and such like roots, may in the 
beginning of this month, be taken up and carefully dried as you do 
tuberoses, and then packed up in very dry sand, or in extremely 
dry moss, observing to keep them during winter completely out of 
the reach of frost or moisture. About the beginning or middle of 
April, you may plant them in pots, which should be plunged in a 
temperate hot-bed, and give the roots but very little water till they 
produce foliage and are growing freely: towards the latter end of 
May the pots may be placed in the open air, to remain till the latter 
end of September, when they should be taken in, and placed in the 
Green-House, or in the windows of some warm room till this time; 
then to be treated as above. Or you may keep up the roots till the 
middle of May, and then plant them even in the open ground; after 
which they will grow considerably before autumn, but not flower 
quite as strong as if properly kept in a Hot- House. 
THE HOT-HOUSE. 
It is to be presumed that your tan-pits have been renewed, and 
all your pots containing pine and other tender plants duly arranged 
