22 THE KITCHEN GARDEN. [JAN. 



allowance for it to be about four or five inches wider than the frame 

 each way ; this done, begin to make the bed accordingly, observing 

 to shake and mix the dung well, as you lay it on the bed, and beat 

 it down with the back of the fork as you go on ; but I would not 

 advise treading it, for a bed which is trodden hard will not work so 

 kindly, and be more liable to burn that which is suffered to settle 

 gradually of itself: in this manner proceed till the bed has arrived 

 at the height of four feet, which will not be too much, making an 

 allowance for its settling six or eight inches or more, in a week or 

 fortnight's time; and as soon as finished, let the frame and glass be 

 put on; keep them close till the heart comes up, then raise the glass 

 behind that the steam may pass away. 



The next thing to be observed is about earthing the bed, in which 

 to sow the seed ; and for which occasion should have a proper sup- 

 ply of rich, light, dry earth, or compost, ready at this season under 

 some airy dry shed or hovel, covered at top to keep out rain, that 

 the earth may be properly dry; for if too moist or wet at this time, 

 it would prove greatly detrimental both to the growth of the seed 

 and young plants, as well as be very apt to cake and burn at bottom 

 next the dung by the strong heat of the bed ; therefore, observing 

 that for early hot-beds of cucumbers and melons should generally 

 deposit a necessary quantity of proper earth, under some cover as 

 above, either the beginning of winter, or at least a fortnight or three 

 or four weeks previous to making the hot-bed, in order to have it in 

 the dry, mellow state above mentioned, ready for immediate use 

 when wanted. 



Three or four days after the bed is made, prepare to earth it ; pre- 

 viously observing, if it has settled unequally, to take off the frame 

 and glasses, and level any inequalities ; make the surface smooth, 

 put on the frame again, and then lay therein as much of the above- 

 mentioned earth as will coyer the whole top surface of the bed about 

 three or four inches thick; then fill two, three, or more middling 

 smallish garden-pots with more of the aforesaid rich earth, place 

 them within the frame on the hot-bed, put on the glass or glasses, 

 and continue them till the earth in the pots is warm, and when that 

 is effected sow the seeds in the pots, both of cucumbers and melons, 

 each separately, more or less in each pot, according to the quantity 

 of plants required, but generally considerably more of cucumbers 

 than of melons at this season, covering in the earth near half an 

 inch deep with the same earth. 



This done, place the pots towards the middle of the bed, plunging 

 the bottom part a little into the earth, drawing some of the same up 

 round each pot at the same time ; or in two or three days after, may 

 sow a few seeds in the earth of the bed, to have a chance both ways ; 

 but by sowing in pots, if the beds should heat too violently, as is 

 sometimes unavoidably the case, the pots can be readily drawn up 

 more or less out of danger of (burning the earth, &c., therein; and 

 thus the sowing in pots in a new made hot-bed in full heat may 

 prove of greater advantage than sowing in the earth of the bed with 

 regard to more probable safety from burning. 



After sowing the seeds, put on the lights or glasses close ; but 



