JAN.] THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 25 



the plants will have taken root ; though that is effected sometimes in 

 twenty-four hours. 



When the plants are fairly rooted, if the earth appears dry, give 

 them a little water in the warmest time of the day; and if the sun 

 shines it will prove more beneficial : let the watering be occasionally 

 repeated very moderately, according as the earth in the pots becomes 

 dry, and appears in want of a little moisture : and for this purpose 

 always have some soft water set within the frame a few hours, to 

 be ready to water the plants as you shall see occasion ; but always 

 with very great cautious moderation at this season. 



If there is now a brisk growing heat in the bed, you should, in 

 order to preserve it as long as possible, apply some outward protec- 

 tion of long stable-litter, straw, waste hay, dried fern, or leaves of 

 trees, round the sides of the bed, raising it by degrees round the out- 

 sides of the frame. 



This will defend the beds from cold piercing wind, heavy or driving 

 rains and snow, if either should happen; for these, if suffered to 

 come at the bed, would chill it, and cause a sudden decay of the 

 heat, whereby the plants would certainly receive a great check. 



If a lively heat be kept up, you may admit air to the plants every 

 day, to strengthen their growth, by tilting the glasses in proportion 

 to the heat of the bed, and temperature of the external air ; generally 

 observing, in this case, that when there happens a sharp cold air, or 

 cutting wind, it would still be advisable to nail a garden-mat to the 

 upper end of the glasses, to hang down over the place where the air 

 is admitted, supported a little hollow or detached underneath, two or 

 three inches from the frame ; and it will thus break off and prevent 

 the cutting external air from entering immediately into the frame 

 upon the plants, and at the same time admit a proper degree of mild 

 fresh air to a greater advantage : however, in calm, moderate weather, 

 this precaution is not materially necessary. 



About a fortnight, or a little more or less time after the bed is 

 made, you will carefully examine the heat thereof, to see if it wants 

 augmentation; and when the heat begins to decline considerably, 

 remove the temporary protection of straw, hay, fern, or leaves from 

 the front and back of the bed, if any was laid round it as before 

 added; then apply a lining of fresh hot horse-dung, close to one or 

 both sides as it shall seem necessary, by the heat being less or more 

 decreased; for a constant regular degree of internal heat must be 

 supported to resist the external cold, and continue the plants in a 

 proper state of advancing growth; but if the heat is not greatly de- 

 clined, it would be advisable to line only one side first, applying it 

 to the back of the bed ; and in a week or fortnight after, line the 

 front, &c., forming the lining about fifteen or eighteen inches wide ; 

 but raise it very little higher than the dung of the bed, lest it throw 

 in too much heat immediately to the earth and roots of the plants ; 

 covering the top with earth two inches thick to preserve the heat, 

 and prevent the rank steam of the new dung from coming up and 

 entering into the frame, where it would prove destructive to the 

 plants ; the lining will soon greatly revive the declining heat of the 

 bed, and continue it in good condition a fortnight longer. 



