173 OF HOT BEDS. SECT. XIII. 



they come in perfection by open culture, yet may be 

 forwarded by artificial warmth. 



According to the quantity and quality of the mate- 

 rials put together for hot beds, tLe heat will be pro- 

 portioned as to ftrength and duration; and by a judi- 

 cious ufe in making, and the management afterwards, 

 many advantages may be obtained from them. The 

 great point is, to fuit the degree of heat to the nature 

 of the different plants to be cultivated, that they may 

 have neither more nor lefs than is necejj'ary to promote 

 a regular vegetation. 



Two errors are common in the ufe of hot beds, fow- 

 ing or placing in the fame beci things of a very different 

 nature, as to the climate they grow befl in, and iarcing 

 with too much heat even the tendereif. Though it 

 may not anfwer our often too hafty views, the heat of 

 a bed had better be flack than otherwife. A itronghot 

 bed, that ought (at leaft) to be made a fortnight before 

 it is ufed, is fometimes furnifhed by impatience in a 

 few days, and various ill confequences follow, which 

 naturally fru Urate expectation. 



The place where hot beds are worked fhould be open 

 to the full fun, catching it as early as pofbble in the 

 jnorning, and having it as long as can be in thcevening ; 

 and if not naturally flickered, it ihould be fcreened 

 from the north and north -eafi winds by a boarded ience, 

 or rather one of reeds, as Irom a folid lence the wind 

 reverberates ; but draw, or ilake hurdles, fet end wife, 

 may do. A fcreen of fome fort, (and a clofe dipt 

 hedge is as good as any] not only protects the inclo- 

 fure from the hardier winds, and confines the Warm 

 air, but keeps a rather un Tightly work from view, and 

 ftraws from blowing about, the litter of which is fo 

 difagreeable. In large gardens, however, they hive 

 .detached ground s for the work of hot beds, where Inch 

 litter is ot' no coniequence. 



Working of the dung is nece'fary previous to the 

 making a hot bed ; i. c. it Ihould bo thrown together 



on 



