SECT. XVI 1 1. OF FLOWERS. 93 



(not to beat them down) as they may appear to need 

 it, and air (particularly in a' full sun) as much as 

 they can be thought to bear, a little at first, and 

 by degrees more, a essential to their health and 

 strength. 



The seeds may also be sown in pots, and plunged 

 at the back part of a cucumber or melon bed. A 

 bed may be got ready to prick them into when grown 

 a little, or into pots placed in the like manner ; and 

 where only a few are cultivated, this method is ad- 

 viseable, (to save trouble) not beginning too early. 



Provide another bed by one month from the sow- 

 ing, to set the plants out in ; and having six. inches 

 depth of mould, place them five or six inches asunder, 

 allotting those to the warmest part of the bed which 

 were longest coming up, and which are of course 

 the weakest, as globes, &c. or they may be put out 

 in small pots of five inches diameter: Place the 

 tallest behind. Let the mould be warmed through 

 before planting. There had better be too little, than 

 too much heat ; but if the bed gets over cool, line it, 

 or cover round with straw, as directed concerning 

 hot-beds, page 184. 



If not sown till the beginning of April, this se- 

 cond -.bed may possibly go through the business, with 

 proper management to keep up its heat, and cover- 

 ing well on nights ; but a third bed is commonly 

 necessary, in order to succeed well, and bring the 

 plants on forward and truly fine. In this bed, it 

 being covered over with four or five inches of mould, 

 the plants should be in small pots, one in each, and 

 plunged an inch deep, close to one another. As the 

 bed gets cooler, the pots are to be earthed higher, 

 till up to the rims in mould ; but if planted without 

 pots, the distance should be eight or nine inches 

 asunder, in order for a ball of earth when moved. 



More water and air is necessary as the plants in* 



