O F S I L K. 29 



which will prevent the mould from being 

 beaten into a cake. If either any frolt 

 happens, or the weather be very hot when 

 you fow the feed, it is proper to cover it 

 with fome ftraw for four or five days j this 

 will defend it from either cold or drought 

 according as the feafon is, and alfo from 

 being fcratch'd up, and pick'd by birds. 

 If the feed is fown on hot-beds, made like 

 thofe for melons, the plants will advance 

 the better, and not be endangered by cold ; 

 but it muil be watered oft, becaufe fuch 

 beds foon grow dry on their furface, from 

 their high fituation. 



Another way of fowing the feed is in 

 fmall drills made in the beds, about an 

 inch deep, and two or three inches afun- 

 der ; by this method you can readily ob- 

 ferve the weeds, and diflinguifb them from 

 the plants, and alfo the fnails, which are 

 great deftroyers of the young plants. I 

 would choofe to make thefe drills run acrofs 

 the bed, and not lengthways, becaufe you 

 will thus eafier difcern the weeds and fnails, 

 and can alfo the readier, with a fmall hoe 

 or fork, flir the earth between each drill, 

 which will check the growth of weeds. 



If 



