112 The Gardener's New Director. 



not be chilled at nights, and to'give them air in propor- 

 tion to the heat of the bed in the day-time, when the 

 weather will admit of it, that the ftcam may pafs off, 

 and the plants gather ftrength. For the natural con- 

 fcquence of too clofe confinement is, that the plants will 

 be drawn up weak, and the leaves turn yellow. 



If the heat of this lafl bed fhculd abate, and the 

 weather prove fevere, a frefli lining of horfe dung muft 

 be added. But be carelul to prevent the fteam of it 

 from getting into the bed, which would be extremely 

 hurtful to the plants. This is to be done, by laying a 

 fmall quantity of earth upon the margin of the bed on 

 the outfide of the frame, by v^iich the (team will be re- 

 llfained from paffing under the bottom of it. This me- 

 thod of keeping up the heat by lining the bed occafi- 

 cnally, is much better than to be frequently moving the 

 plants into new beds. And if fome hay or ftraw be laid 

 tlofely and neatly round, and almofl even with the top 

 of the frame, for the purpofe of fhooting off the wet, 

 it vvil] be found to be no inconfiderable improvement. 



As foon as the plants have fully expanded their two 

 firft rough leaves, and are forming the third, it will be 

 proper to cut off the extreme part with a fliarp knife. 

 This is called (lopping them. Then lay fome dry 

 mould, by way of plainer, on the wounded part, to 

 heal it. The center of the plants being thus cut off, 

 they will foon put forth runners. When thefe begin to 

 appear, you fliouUl be provided with a quantity of dung 

 proportioned to the number of lights you intend to 

 wori-:, allowing fifteen barrows of dung to each light. 



In chufing your dung on this occafion, your care is 

 requifite, that it be neither too long nor too fhort. The 

 firfl will heat too violently, and alterwards lofe its heat 

 too foon; and the laft will be apt to fettle too clofe, by 

 which tlie fermentation will be foon flopped. '! he ufe- 

 ful therefore lavs between both, and a medium m nil be 

 obferved. Be lure to mix it well together in a heap, 

 as before direfted. And when you fee that the plants 

 in the nurfc-ry frame have produced runners four or five 

 inches long, then make your third bed ; in which they 

 are to be plapicd to produce their fruit. If you obferve 



any 



