84 THE VEGETABLE CULTIVATOR. 



reduction of the dung is not carried too far before 

 making up the bed ; as where that is the case, too 

 little heat will afterwards be produced, and there 

 will be a want of regularity in its supply. 



In the course of a week, and as soon as the dung 

 is observed to be in proper order, the bed may be 

 made up to full three feet and a half in height, and 

 six or ten inches wider than the frame, the whole 

 being beaten down regularly with the fork, but not 

 trodden, as advised by some. When finished, the 

 frame and lights must then be put on and kept 

 close for a day or two, to draw up the heat, which 

 will soon be accomplished with a large body of 

 steam : air should then be admitted night and day, 

 by tilting up the light two or three inches at the 

 back, for the steam to evaporate, which it generally 

 does in four or five days, and sometimes in less. 

 During that time, if the dung within the frame is 

 slightly stirred up with a hand fork every other 

 day, and a moderate watering given each time, it 

 will bring the bed into a sweet and competent state 

 for earthing : (these waterings are most essential, 

 and are of modern invention.) The author's old 

 acquaintance, Abercrombie, says nothing of them 

 in his early work, Every Man his own Gardener, 

 which, almost at first sight, made the author averse 

 from every other pursuit but that of a " gardener." 



When the bed is found to be in a proper state 

 for earthing, the frame should be taken off, and the 

 surface stirred up about a foot in depth, when, 

 after being regularly beat down and levelled, the 

 frame must be again put on, and a quantity of the 

 richest mould, more dry than moist suppose one 



