JAN.] THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 23 



when the steam from the heat of the bed rises copiously, give it 

 vent by raising one corner of the upper ends of the lights half aa 

 inch or an inch, which is also necessary in order to prevent any 

 burning tendency from the great heat of the bed in its early state ; 

 60 by night, and 80 with sunshine, will be a proper temperature. 



Continue now to cover the glasses of the hot-bed every evening, 

 about an hour before sun-setting, if mild weather, but earlier in pro- 

 portion to its severity, with garden mats ; and uncover them every 

 morning, not sooner than between eight and nine o'clock at this sea- 

 son; and observe, in covering up in the evening, that as the bed 

 will at first have a strong heat and steam within the frame, it may 

 be advisable to cover only a single mat thick for the first three or 

 four nights, as a thicker covering in the early state of the bed might 

 be apt to occasion a too violent internal heat and steam of a burning 

 nature; but as the great heat decreases, augment the covering, 

 being careful not to suffer the ends of the mats to hang down con- 

 siderably below the frame, over the sides of the bed, except in severe 

 weather, which would draw up a hurtful strong steam from the dung, 

 as well as confine the steam and heat too much, and keep the bed 

 too stiflingly close from the external air, which would weaken the 

 germination or sprouting of the seed, and the plants would come up 

 weak and of a sickly yellowish hue ; observe, therefore, these and the 

 following precautions, in order both to prevent too great a heat in 

 the bed, and that the plants may rise with a proper degree of strength 

 and healthful growth. 



Likewise observe, on the above considerations, that in covering up, 

 or applying the night covering of mats over the glasses, during the 

 time the strong heat and steam continue in the bed, it would be pro- 

 per when the mats are put on in the afternoon to raise the upper ends 

 of the glass or glasses, a quarter of an inch, or a little more or less, 

 occasionally, both to give vent to the internal rank steam, and to 

 admit a moderate degree of fresh air ; and in which may fasten one 

 of the covering mats to hang down a little over the part where the 

 lights are occasionally opened to prevent the cutting external air 

 from rushing immediately into the frame, especially after the plants 

 are advancing ; but this, necessary as it is, cannot be done with safety 

 in very severe weather. 



Great care is requisite that the earth in the pots have not too much 

 heat, for the bed is yet very hot, and therefore let the degree of in- 

 ternal heat in the bed be daily examined; and, if anything of burning 

 should appear, you can conveniently raise the pots farther from the 

 dung, from which the danger proceeds, without disturbing the seeds 

 or plants, and thereby prevent all injury from too much heat, pro- 

 vided you examine the bed every day, and give proper vent to the 

 rank steam within the frame, while of a burning quality. 



In two, three, or four days after the seed is sown, you may expect 

 the plants to appear ; when it will be proper to admit fresh air to 

 them, by raising the upper end of the glass a little every day : and 

 if the earth in the pots appears dry, refresh it moderately with a 

 little water that has stood in the bed all night, just to take off the 

 cold chill ; applying it about eleven or twelve o'clock of the day, and 



