16 THE VEGETABLE CULTIVATOR. 



out is light and rich, it will serve to cover the bed 

 preparatory to the planting. When it is made, set 

 on the frame and glasses, leaving the latter a little 

 way open, that the rank steam may more readily 

 pass off; when that is subsided, which may be known 

 by the smell, the bed should be made level, and 

 the top beaten down with the back of the spade. 

 Some good, rich, light, and garden mould is then 

 spread on the surface of the bed, to the depth of six 

 or eight inches ; it will then be in a fit state for 

 planting, care being taken that there is no cavity 

 caused by the sinking of the bed, so as to allow the 

 heat to escape. 



The frame should be made of well-seasoned deal, 

 one inch and a half thick, ten feet seven inches 

 Jong, two feet deep at the back, and one foot three 

 inches in front ; the lights can be about three feet 

 six inches wide, with two iron bars placed across 

 each for strength. It should have three coats ot 

 paint previously to using ; and in glazing, the glass 

 must lap over about the eighth of an inch ; such a 

 frame will not only be useful for forcing asparagus, 

 but for other vegetables, as potatoes, cucumbers 

 &c. When the burning steam has subsided, and the 

 bed is finished ready for planting, take up and pre- 

 pare the necessary quantity of roots from the na- 

 tural ground ; then begin at the back, or one end ot 

 the hot-bed, and raise a small ridge of earth (the 

 author advises extra mould to be used for this purpose, 

 otherwise too much will be taken from off the dung) 

 crosswise upon the surface, five or six inches high, 

 against which lay the first row of roots : when that 

 is done, place another row against these in the same 



