1<J8 monthly calendar. [February. 



Heaths, Laurustinuses, Lemon trees, Rhododendrons, 

 Orange trees, &c, will require water once or twice a week, 

 according to circumstances, and air should be given at all 

 opportunities, or the plants will not blossom in perfection. 



For the benefit of such as may wish to raise early plants 

 from seed, or to force Dahlia or other roots, I subjoin the 

 following brief directions for making a small hot-bed : In a 

 border exposed to the morning sun, let a pit be dug about 

 thirty inches deep, five feet wide, and six long ; this will 

 admit of two sashes, each three feet by five. A frame of 

 suitable dimensions may be made of plank ; the back plank 

 may be two feet wide, and the end ones sloped so as to 

 make a fifteen inch plank do for the front. The frame 

 being made, set it over the pit, and then get a load of horse 

 dung, fresh from the livery stables, (not such as has lain 

 long, or may have been soddened with water>) spread the 

 dung evenly in the pit until full, then put into the frame 

 light rich mould, or compost, to the depth of ten or twelve 

 inches, and the seed may be sown as soon as it gets warm. 

 It may be necessary to observe, that in making hot-beds, 

 the quantity of top mould should be regulated according to 

 the substance of manure in the pit, and this may vary 

 according to the use the beds are intended for, or to other 

 circumstances. After the seeds are sown, the beds will 

 require constant attention ; cover up warm in cold nights, 

 and give air at all opportunities, to prevent the plants from 

 growing weak. 



As we are subject to North- West winds at this season, 

 which produce extreme freezing, it will be better to delay 

 the making of hot-beds to the first week in March, at which 

 time opportunities will frequently ofter of giving plants a 

 tolerable share of salubrious air, which is indispensable to 

 their preservation. 



