HOT 



HOT 



directed below. See Frames and Hand- 

 Glassks. 



The Hot-bed being thus formed, when of 

 considerable substance, it may be advisable to 

 defer the framing and earthing it finally for se- 

 veral days, or a week or more, according to the 

 strength of the bed, until a little settled, and 

 the first violent heat has subsided; as the heat 

 will be very strong, and frequently of a burning 

 nature for the firs! week or two after it is made. 

 It may, however, often be proper to set the 

 frames and glasses on, to defend the bed from 

 excessive rains or snow, as well as to draw up 

 the heat sooner, to forward the bed to a proper 

 temperature for the reception of the mould, 

 and seeds or plants. The upper ends of the 

 lights should be raised a hand's breadth high, 

 or shoven so much down in dry weather, that 

 the great steam arising may pass freely off; as 

 in strong Hot-beds neither the earth, seed, or 

 plants, should be put in till the fierce heat and 

 violent steam have a little abated. Hot-beds of 

 slender substance may, however, be framed, 

 earthed, 8tc. as soon as made, as no great dan- 

 ger is to be apprehended from burning, and more 

 particularly those for small frames, hand-glasses, 

 &c. 



Where there is an extensive range of sub- 

 stantial Hot-beds, the placing the frames on 

 them before they are fixed for good, is often in- 

 convenient ; in which case it is proper to have 

 mats, or dry long litter, ready to cover the tops 

 in case of excessive rains or snow, which might 

 chill and retard the beds greatly from becoming 

 of a due temperature for the reception of the 

 earth, &c. and sometimes occasion them to 

 become of a burning quality, when they other- 

 wise would be of a regular heat. 



In Hot-beds designed for strength and dura- 

 lion it will, as soon as they are made, be proper 

 to provide some sharp-pointed sticks, two feet 

 long, to thrust down into the middle of the beds 

 in different parts, that by pulling them out 

 daily, and feeling their lower parts, a judgment 

 may be formed of the working and temperature 

 of the beds, and when in a proper state for the 

 reception of the mould and plants. 



When the Hot-bed is therefore of good sub- 

 stance, and forthe large frames, it is proper to let 

 it remain some days to settle, before it is framed 

 for good, because, notwithstanding all the care in 

 making, it will often settle unequally, and 

 should be levelled before it is earthed ; in from 

 about three to five, six, or eight days, according 

 to the nature of the dung, or substance of the 

 bed, it will have so far settled as to discover the 

 inequalities, if any; when, if the frames and 

 glasses were placed thereon for the purposes 



above mentioned, when the whole has settled, 

 all the inequalities should be made even by le- 

 velling the top, making the surface firm, and 

 smoothing itoff neatly with the back of the spade. 

 Then tiie frame and glasses should be put on for 

 good, opening the lights a little at top to give 

 vent to the steam. 



Earthing flic Beds. — As substantial dung 

 Hot-beds, after being covered with the frames, 

 &c. sometimes heat violently the first week or 

 fortnight, when the earth is nut in during the 

 fierce heat, by confining the heat and steam 

 still more closely, it is in danger of being burnt, 

 and also of destroying the seed and roots of the 

 plants, if any were sown or planted. When 

 the earth is thus burnt by the heat of the dung, 

 no seeds or plants can vegetate or thrive in it ; 

 it must therefore be taken out, and be replaced 

 by fresh compost. Hot-beds of considerable 

 substance should of course be examined previ- 

 ous to moulding them, to ascertain the state of 

 heat daily, both by the sticks, and thrusting the 

 hand down into the dung. And when it is 

 found of a due temperature, the mould should 

 be put on. This is sometimes shown to be the 

 case by the appearance of a sort of mushroom 

 spawn. 



But in slender Hot-beds, as their heat is nevet 

 so violent or durable, they may either be earth- 

 ed as soon as made, or in two, three, or four 

 days afterwards, as judged proper. In all cases 

 care should however be taken that the beds do 

 not lose any time, for them to waste their heat 

 ineffectually, without being earthed. 



For all sorts of Hot-beds the earth or mould 

 should be rich, light, and of a dry quality, 

 particularly for early work in winter and spring, 

 and tender plants, such as cucumbers, melons, 

 tender annuals, Sec. as very moist earth rots such 

 plants while young, binds too close, and by its 

 compactness confines the heat and steam, so as 

 often to burn at bottom, and scorch the roots 

 of the plants. Some light mould should there- 

 fore be always in readiness in some airy shed, 

 for two or three weeks before it is wanted. See 

 Compost. 



The depth of earth or mould necessary to be 

 applied over Hot-beds, must be different ac- 

 cording to the purposes for which they are de- 

 signed, as for sowing seed on, or the recep- 

 tion of plants, and the nature of the plants, or 

 chiefly for plunging pots in. In general, how- 

 ever, from about five or six, to ten or twelve 

 inches, is the common depth. For sowing 

 seeds to raise plants for transplantation, the 

 depth of mould should be about six inches ; 

 and where they are to remain to ac-quire their 

 full growth, not less than from six or eight to 

 3N 



