yS <^N THE CtJLTtJR]^ 



but with little better confequences ; for the taking 

 the mould out from under the plants difturbs their 

 roots, and. In a few days after, if the heat of the 

 bed be not declined, it becomes too hot again, and 

 the fame work is again required. Thus with thefe 

 three methods I have kept on from Odober tilf 

 March, and during that time have paid great at- 

 tention, and exerted all my ingenuity, yet have 

 been but Httle forwarder with my plants than 

 if I had not begun to fow the feeds before the 

 month of February ; and this has not only been 

 my cafe, but, to my certain knowledge, that of hun* 

 dreds befides. 



The fourth and lad method of keeping the burning 

 heat of the bed under, is that of pouring water into 

 the dung of the bed. This method is the befl and 

 mod effedual of the four, but in its performance 

 {kill, care, and attention, are required ; and it mufl be 

 executed with fuch nicety and circumfpedion, that I 

 freely confefs I am not able to give fuch inftrudions 

 concerning it, as might at all be depended on. For 

 if too much water be poured in, it chills the bed, 

 and creates noxious vapours therein ; and if too little 

 water be poured in, the burning will increafe; fo that 

 by running to extremes on either fide, the plants are 

 expofed to danger, retarded in their growth, and 

 perhaps attacked by infetls and by complicated dif- 

 eafes, which, if not removed in a fhort time, will 

 bring them to an untimely end. 



The effed which the linings have on dung beds 

 caufes their fides to fink, and that unevenly, efpeci- 



ally 



