OF EARLY CUCUMBERS. 15 



cavity of about ten inches between each box; 

 then place the boxes on, and put the shovellings 

 inside, in the proportion of two or three barrows- 

 full to a light. In forming the bed, it is the best 

 plan to make it in layers of about a foot each., 

 which will cause tire dung to be much better 

 mixed, than if all finished at first, of an equal 

 height. Be very particular in separating the 

 dung, and breaking it to pieces, afterwards 

 beating it well down with a fork. 



After the bed has been thus prepared, put the 

 lights on, and shut them down close until the 

 heat begins to rise. When such is the case, give 

 them about an inch of air ; and in three or four 

 days wrap the bed all round with dry litter or 

 useless hay, eighteen inches wide from the bot- 

 tom, sloping it in to about a foot as high as the 

 bed, which will greatly tend to promote a regu- 

 lar heat. As the careful wrapping up of the bed 

 is an essential requisite, means must be taken to 

 keep it close, and protect it from any injury that 

 may arise in consequence of tempestuous wea- 

 ther, this may be accomplished by means of 



