52 The Kitchen Garden. [Feb. 



pots fome water the day before they arc to be planted ; and 

 the method of plan ting is this : having fome pots of the llrong- 

 eft plants ready, lay your hand on the furface of the pot, tak- 

 ing the ftems of the plants carefully between your fingers ; 

 then turn the mouth of the pot downwards, and ftrlke the 

 edge gently on the frame ; the plants with the ball of 

 earth to their roots, will come out entire; then, making 

 a hole in the middle of each hillock of earth, place one 

 pot of plants, with the ball entire, in each hole, clofmg 

 the earth well round the ball ; and let the rop of each ball 

 be covered about an inch, bringing the earth clofe round 

 the ftems of the plants ; then give a very moderate water- 

 ing towards the outfide of the ball of the plants ; obferving 

 to ufe fuch as has ftood in the bed long enough to take 

 the chillnefs off; and let as little as poftible touch their 

 leaves and ftems at this time : this done, then jfhut all the 

 lights down clofe for the prefent, till the fteam rifes again 

 ftrong, theiT muft be tilted a little in proportion to give it 

 vent. 



The plants being now ridged out, it is necefTary to cover 

 the lights every night with mats,' putting them on about 

 half an hour, or an hour, or little more or lefs, after fun- 

 fet, and uncover again in the morning about fun-rifing : 

 in covering up, never let the ends of the mat hang down 

 low over the fides of the frame, which would ftifle the 

 plants, and draw up a hurtful fteam. 



Air muft be admitted to them every day, when the wea- 

 ther is any thing favourable, by raifing one end of the 

 glafTes an inch or two, or in proportion lo the fharpnefs or 

 mildnefs of the outward air and heat and fteam of the bed. 



In giving the plants air, it is a good method, at this fea- 

 fon, in cutting weather, to faften a mat acrofs the ends of the 

 lights, where tilted, to hang down over the place where the 

 air enters the frame ; the mat v^'ill break the wind, and 

 .iharp a'r, before it reaches the plants, and yet there will be 

 a due proportion of air admitted, without expofing them 

 diredly to it ; and there will alfo be full liberty to let the 

 fteam off^. 



Likewife, in covering the glaftes on nights with mats, 

 if there be a ftrong heat, and great fteam in the bed, 

 let the lights be raifed a little when you cover up, and let 

 them remain fo all night, and ufe the mats as above^ men- 

 tioned. 



