88 THE VEGETABLE CULTIVATOR. 



formed two joints, the leading bud should be pinched 

 off carefully with the finger and thumb. In a day 

 or two after that operation, they will begin to break 

 into runners ; and in the course of eight or ten days, 

 if regularly attended to, they will be of sufficient 

 growth to plant out finally in frames. The prepar- 

 ation of the dung for the aforesaid purpose having 

 been mentioned, it may be supposed by this time 

 to be in a proper state to make up the bed or ridge, 

 which should be the same height as advised for the 

 seed-bed, and a few inches wider than the frame. 

 In the making of this bed, attention should be paid 

 to the regular working of the whole : as the bed is 

 carried on, it should be beaten down regularly with 

 the fork; and, as before observed, not trodden, which 

 often does more harm than good. As soon as it is 

 finished, and the short dung thrown up in the 

 middle, the frame must be set on with the lights, and 

 treated in every way similar to what is advised for 

 the seed-bed, particularly in shoving up the sur- 

 face, watering, and giving vent to the steam, &c. 

 which a ridge hot-bed* requires for nearly a fort- 

 night before it is in proper order to receive the 

 plants. This is observed and may be known by the 

 smell of the steam arising from the bed, whether 

 moderate or fiery. A trial should likewise be made 

 of the heat contained in the body of the bed. 

 This is done by thrusting what are called watch- 

 sticks down on three sides to the centre of the bed, 

 and after remaining about half an hour, they will 

 indicate the heat, which being moderate, the surface 

 of the bed may be levelled, and the earth (such as 

 before mentioned) put into the frame, either in 



