50 AMERICAN GARDENER. 



at one end, and coming to a point at the other. 

 Each light is lifted up, either at back or front of 

 the frame, as the wind may be, and the wedge, 

 or titter, as it is called, is put in, to hold the light 

 up. But, if more air be wanted, the lights may 

 be shoved up, or down ; and, in a fine day, actu- 

 ally taken off. 



81. When the plants come up, they will soon 

 tell you all about air ; for, if they have not 

 enough, they will draw ufi long-legged, and will 

 have small seed leaves, and, indeed, if too much 

 deprived of air, will drop down and die. Take 

 care in time to prevent this. Let them grow 

 strong rather than tall. Short st6ms, broad seed 

 leaves, very green ; these are the signs of good 

 plants and proper management. 



82. It will be necessary to water. Take off a 

 light at a time, and water with a watering pot 

 that does not pour out heavily. Water just 

 about sun-set ; and then shut down the lights ; 

 and the heat will then rise; and make the plant 

 grow prodigiously. 



83. As soon as the plants are fairly ufi, thin 

 them, leaving/owr in an inch ; and stir the ground 

 about, at the same time with your finger. This 

 will leave in the frame from twenty -Jive to thirty 

 thousand plants. If you want less, sow in wider 

 rows and thinner in the row. But, above all 

 things, give air enough. Do not attempt to make 

 the plants grow fast. You are sure to destroy 

 them, if you make this attempt. Have patience. 

 The plants will be ready soon enough. Get them 

 strong and green ; and, to do this, you must give 

 them filenty of air. Remember, that, out of a 

 thousand failures in hot-bed culture, nine him- 



