16 ON THE CULTURE 



sharp-pointed sticks, with hooks in the form of 

 a peg, and about the size and length of a broom- 

 stick. Thrust these through the litter into the 

 bed, about half way up, one to each light., at the 

 back and front, and two at; each end. 



After the bed has been made about a week or 

 ten days, take off the boxes and lights, in order 

 to level it, and let it have from four to six inches 

 fall from the back to the front ; in this, how- 

 ever, you must be in some degree guided by the 

 form of the boxes, which it is necessary should 

 have a good fall, that the plants may derive 

 benefit from the sun ; then fork up the bed 

 about a foot deep, and again place on the boxes 

 and lights, giving nearly two inches of air, both 

 night and day. In about four or five days it 

 will be necessary to again fork it up, and give it 

 some water, in the proportion of two pots to a 

 light. This must be repeated every two or three 

 days, until the bed is perfectly sweet, which is 

 usually the case in three or four weeks, applying 

 water during that time, according to the state of 

 the bed. 



