KITCHEN GARDEN 163 



with mould, and the glasses to be replaced on the 

 frames, and, when the buds begin to show them- 

 selves, they must have a second and similar cover- 

 ing. 



The ventilation first of the bed, and subsequently 

 of the plants, ha.> distinct rules, requiring the strict- 

 est observance. With regard to the former, the gen- 

 eral direction is, to give to the bed as much air as 

 possible, without permitting the earth to be cither 

 frozen or chilled ; with regard to the latter, so soon 

 as the buds show themselves through the second 

 covering of mould, ventilate every day, and through- 

 out the day if the weather be good; but during the 

 night, whatever may be the state of the weather, 

 keep ypur glasses down, and constantly covered 

 with straw matting. 



Though we have thus far taken for granted that 

 the temperature of the hotbed is a proper one, still, as 

 accidents sometimes occur in that respect, and of a 

 character and with effects directly opposite to each 

 other, it may not be amiss to remark that, for ten 

 days after the roots are put down, the degree of 

 heat in the bed must be carefully watched, lest it 

 be too great ; and, if found to be so, holes must be 

 "mmediately bored, with a stake of two or three 

 inches diameter, into the fermenting mass from 

 without, and other similar holes into the earth di- 

 rectly below the roots; and when, by these means, 

 the heat is sufficiently moderated, the holes are to 

 be carefully stopped. On the other hand, should 

 the heat be found insufficient or to decline too rap- 

 idly, a moment must not be lost in giving a new 

 lining of fresh and hot dung to the sides of the bed. 

 The common method of ascertaining the degree of 

 heat in these cases, is to run down a sharp-pointed 

 stick between the roots, and, if it become suddenly 

 and greatly heated, or heated in a small degree, or 

 not at ail, the conclusion is drawn accordingly. Foi 

 ourselves, we have found the finger a very safe ther 

 13 



