4 ON THE CULTURE 



inches. Beat it well down with a fork ; then 

 put the box on, and fill it three parts full with 

 the shovellings of the dung that is left ; after 

 which, place on the light, and let it be close shut 

 down. As soon as you discover the heat rising, 

 admit air by opening the frame about an inch : 

 when it increases, so as to become very hot, 

 admit more air, by extending the aperture to two 

 inches, It must remain in this situation about 

 a week ; then fork it up above a foot deep, and 

 if caked together, or in the least dry, give it 

 more water. From two to four pots is generally 

 sufficient ; but the quantity must be regulated 

 by the state of the bed. Here it is necessary to 

 observe, that moisture is of most important 

 consequence to the seed-bed, and nothing is so 

 well calculated to sweeten and cleanse it from 

 impurity as water. 



In two or three days after forking up, it will 

 be necessary to take off the box and light, for 

 the purpose of making the bed even. In doing 

 this, stir it up from about the depth of a foot, 

 and shake it to pieces ; then put on the box 



