Jnlfi 2, 19^8.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 



605 



with old rotten straw, grass, leaves or any litter that will prevent evaporation 

 of the moisture that is ab^olutel}' essential to the })ro(lartion of good 

 vegetables. 



In the warmer or coastal flistricts some preparation should l)e made now for 

 raising seedlings; for this purpose a frame may be made that will answer the 

 purpose and the cost of which will be almost nil. Obtain any rough timber, 

 slabs, boards or old cases for the sides and ends — a convenient size would be 

 6 feet long by 3 ft. 6 in. wide, 3 feet high at the back, sloping to 1 ft. 6 in. in 

 front : glass is generally used for a covering, but provision must be made for 

 ventilation. This is most easily obtained by inserting a piece of stick under 

 one edge of the glass covering (See Fig. 1). 



j-ig.2.— A rough frame covered with hess'.an. 



A blind made of hessian (jn a r(jller should also be jn-ovided, to lower over 

 the glass when anv shade is required, or the youn'j; plants may be burnt off. 



This frame should now be half filled with fresh stable manure, on which 

 should be placed 5 or 6 inches of bush rakings or leaf mould. .Sufficient heat 

 will be immpdiately developed to start any seeds planted in i'. 



The seeds should be sown in shallow boxes or pans and placed in the 

 surface soil to a depth of 3 to 4 inches. 



Instead of the glass covering a blind of hessian may lie used, as sl)own in 

 Fig. 2; but if wet weather sets in the manure soon los' s its heat, and tlie 

 spedlings die off with the cold. 



