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plificd in early cucumber aad melon hot-beds, 

 which, without the aid of occasional linings, 

 would not retain sufficient heat to forward 

 their respective plants, &c. to proper perfec- 

 tion. . 



Dung for this purpose must be of the best 

 fresh horse stable kind, moist and full of a 

 steamy lively heat, being prepared in the man- 

 ner described under Hot-bed, and in proper 

 quantity to make the lining substantial, fifteen 

 or eighteen inches wide, and as high as the 

 dung of the hotbed; as when too slender they 

 do not effect the intended purpose, especially in 

 early beds, or when the heat is considerably 

 decreased. 



In early hot-bed work, care should be taken, 

 according to the extent of the bed or beds and 

 season of the year, to allot and reserve a suffici- 

 ency of dung for linings : early beds in very cold 

 weather will generally require more substan- 

 tial and frequent linings than later-madcbeds in 

 the advanced spring-months; and some hot-beds, 

 for slight or temporary uses, just to raise plants 

 for two or three weeks, will sometimes require 

 but very little or no linings. Hot-beds made 

 late, as in the beginning or any time in May, 

 willneed but very trifling linings, or some not at 

 all, except in particular uses as when plants are 

 rather backward in growth, the weather cold, 

 and the bed declined~much in heat, when, pro- 

 bably, even in May, or beginning of June, a- 

 fina) moderate lining may be necessary. 



The requisite linings should be applied to the 

 respective hot-beds in proper time, as it may be 

 necessary on examining the state of heat, not 

 letting them decline too considerably before 

 they °are applied, but to continue always a 

 moderately lively heat, but never violent : lin- 

 ings are sometimes applied by degrees, raising 

 them only half way at first, adding more in 

 height in a few days, and thus proceeding till 

 they are raised to the height of the hot-beds. 



In the application of linings, it is generally 

 necessary to line only one side at a time, com- 

 monly the back part of the bed first ; and in a 

 week or fortnight after to line the front side, 

 and both ends if necessary; or in particular 

 cases of the hot-bed having suddenly declined, 

 or been permitted to decrease very considerably 

 in heat before applying the lining, to line both 

 sides moderately at' once, about twelve or fifteen 

 inches in width, but only as high as the dung of 

 the bed at first ; being afterwards a little aug- 

 mented by degrees according as the dung of the 

 lininsr settles. 



The general requisite substance of the linings 

 is from° twelve to fifteen or eighteen inches 

 width m dung, and as high as the dung of the 



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bed, or sometimes a few inches higher : but for 

 early beds of cucumbers, melons, or other plants 

 of long continuance in hot-beds, they should 

 generally be laid from fifteen to eighteen inches 

 in width at bottom, as conceived necessary, 

 narrowing the width gradually upwards to 

 eight, ten, or twelve inches at top, which may 

 be" raised at once to the full height of the dung 

 of the bed, or a few inches higher up the side 

 of the frame, to allow for settling ; but with a 

 strong lining, be cautious in raising it much 

 above the dung of the hot-bed, especially when 

 made of very strong, hot, steamy dung, for 

 fear cither of its throwing in a too strong heat 

 above to burn the internal earth of the bed, or 

 imparting a copious rank steam to penetrate 

 within the frame, which would steam-scald 

 tender plants. 



In general, as soon as the linings are raised 

 to the intended height, it is proper to lay a 

 stratum of earth at top two inches thick, close 

 up to the bed or bottom part of the frame, slop- 

 ing a little outward to throw off the falling wet 

 of rain, snow, &c. which top covering of earth is 

 essential, both to Iceep thehcat of the linings from 

 escaping too considerably above:, in order that it 

 may be directed more effectually to its intended 

 purpose of imparting its whole or principal heat 

 internally to the revival of that of the bed, and 

 prevent the strong steam arising immediately 

 from the rank dung from entering the frame at 

 bottom, or through any small crevice, or at 

 top, when the lights are occasionally raised for 

 the admission of fresh air, as the rancid dung- 

 steam thus produced, without being moderated 

 by first passing through a stratum of earth, if it 

 should enter within the frame considerably, 

 would prove very pernicious to most plants, and 

 the total destruction of some kinds. 



As the heat of the linings declines to any ex- 

 tent, they must be renewed by a supply of fresh 

 hot dung. This may sometimes be effected by 

 turning over, and shaking up the same dung 

 mixedly together, directly forming it again into 

 a lining : or some of the best or least decayed 

 or exhausted parts of the old lining may only 

 be used, mixing it up properly with a good sup- 

 ply of new dung, applying it immediately in a 

 proper substantial lining as before 



When the dung of the linings is greatly ex- 

 hausted, fresh dung should mostly be used in the 

 renewal. 



Linings of hot dung arc sometimes used sub- 

 stantially, in working some sorts of forcing- 

 frames, in raising early flowers and fruits, by 

 applying the dung against the back ol the 

 frame, two or three feet in width at bottom, nar- 

 rowing gradually to a foot and a half, or less, at 



