LETTUCE. 151 



the seed may be sown moderately thick, and lightly 

 covered with mould ; the lights are then to be put 

 on, and kept close till the plants begin to appear, 

 when a little air can be admitted, and some outside 

 protection afforded, if found necessary,, as in that 

 bed they remain until finally planted out. If a 

 few pots or pans are sown with seed, and placed in 

 some cool part of a pine-stove, or such like place, 

 some trouble will be saved, and it will equally 

 answer the purpose. However, in either way, as 

 soon as the plants appear, preparation should be 

 made for making a bed ; for which purpose a quan- 

 tity of good hot dung, sufficient for a three-light 

 frame, must be procured, and turned over two or 

 three times before working it up into the bed. A 

 third part of recently collected leaves, mixed with 

 the dung, will cause a more steady and regular 

 heat than if it were made up without them. This 

 being in readiness, the bed may be made up full 

 three feet high (in a more advanced season three 

 feet six inches), and well put together, of which hints 

 have been given in the early part of the work. The 

 frame and lights are put on to draw up the heat ; 

 and when the bed is found to be in proper order, 

 which perhaps will be in four or five days, the sur- 

 face should be lightly beaten down with the back 

 of a spade, and some good rich mould (more dry 

 than moist) laid over the wjiole, to the depth of 

 two or three inches. When that is done, small hil- 

 locks should be made under each square, so as 

 nearly to touch the glass ; for as the bed is likely 

 to sink somewhat, there will be sufficient space left 

 for the plants to grow in and turn their leaves. 

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