82 On the Construction of Brick Pits, 



menced, the easier it is carried on, — the inclemency of our 

 winters, the great quantity of snow which often falls, and 

 the severe cold, rendering it extremely difficult and uncer- 

 tain in the months of January and February ; and where 

 the old hot-bed system is pursued, the labor and uncertainty 

 is still greater. In the following notes, extracted from our 

 Journal, we have occasionally added some observations. 

 But we think this method Avill be better understood, than if 

 we made no reference to dates, and merely detailed our 

 mode of cultivation.] 



Jan. 21st. The snow, which commenced falling last eve- 

 ning, and continued through the night, covering the ground 

 to the depth of about two and a half inches, has rendered it 

 somewhat inconvenient to add the manure to the pit to-day. 

 Temperature in the open air, at sunrise, 33°. 



23d. This morning the mercury fell as low as 5°, The 

 soil in the bed still remains partly frozen ; but the sun shi- 

 ning very bright, has thawed the surface. Ten barrows of 

 manure, fresh, and in a good state of fermentation, Avere 

 added to-day. The doors were closed tight, and hay and 

 straw put against the crevices, and in front of them, by 

 placing up square pieces of board. The sashes were cov- 

 ered at night with one thickness of bass mats ; on top of 

 these, soft hay, to the thickness of three or four inches, and 

 on the hay, one more thickness of mats. A few narrow 

 strips of boards Avere then put on, to prevent the wind from 

 blowing the covering off, should it blow violently during the 

 night. 



24th. The weather to-day moderate ; temperature, at 

 sunrise, 29° ; cloudy, and little misty. Added eight barrows 

 more of manure, and stirred the whole well together. Cov- 

 ered up as on the previous evening. 



25th. Rainy ; temperature 50°, and to-day the heat in 

 the bed began to rise ; temperature 50° at sunrise. The 

 sashes covered, as mentioned the 24th, every night. 



26th. Temperature, at sunrise, zero ; snow fell during 

 last night, to the depth of five inches. Temperature of the 

 bed, at sunrise, 50°. 



27th. Temperature 13° below zero. In consequence of 

 the extreme cold, could not open the bed without the fear 

 of losing much heat. Temperature of the bed, 54°. 



28th. Thermometer 8° below zero. Cucumber seed 

 planted to-day. The kind best adapted to forcing being 

 considered the true Southgate, this kind Avas planted. The 

 soil in the bed being composed almost AvhoUy of Avell de- 

 cayed leaves (but a small portion of common garden earth 

 being added), pots four inches in diameter at the top, and 

 four deep, Avere filled with it : two or three small pieces of 



