THE SCOTS GARDENER 



and sheltered from winds, which you may keep by 

 art, if not naturally so ; fill it with manure and lit- 

 ter from the stables, about a fortnight's gathering, 

 and, when well trodden, and even on the top, lay 

 about four inches thick of rich, light, but fresh and 

 clean, sifted mould thereon. Arch it over with sticks, 

 and cover it with mats four or five dayes to cause it 

 heat ; then uncover and give it air a day or two, that 

 its violent heat may pass off ; then sow your seeds 

 and cover the bed again. And the next day, if you 

 find the bed too hot, give it more air ; if too cold, 

 cast some straw on the covering, untill the heat re- 

 turne ; thus, by airing and covering, you may keep 

 it in a constant temper. When the seeds come up, 

 give them air to dry the moisture raised up by the 

 heat of the bed. How to cover the seeds with glasses 

 see Chap. VI. But as there is great trouble in right- 

 ly ordering this sort of hot-bed ; so it is here remedied 

 by a better, which is only to fill and tread the pit 

 full of new manure and litter, not covering it with 

 earth, and place wooden cases therein, about nine 

 or ten inches deep, and about three foot broad, 

 having wood-handles at the end ; bore them full of 

 auger or wimble-holes at the bottome, and fill them 

 wi th the f or esaid earth, and therein sow your seeds ; 



