272 HOTBEDS FOR EARLY 



pouring it out of the spout of the watering-pot 

 on a flat piece of tile, that it may not disturb the 

 earth, and the tile will cause the water to spread 

 more over the surface. But after a full crop is 

 thoroughly set and in an advanced state of 

 growth, occasional waterings may be given mo- 

 derately over the plants ; but never water over 

 the plants in the heat of the day, while the sun 

 shines powerfully, but either in the morning 

 about eight or nine o'clock, or in the afternoon 

 after three. When the runners are pushing 

 forth, they should be stopped by pinching, or 

 cutting off the tops of the shoots, to promote the 

 strength of the plants, and to furnish more run- 

 ners, and the new runners should also be stopped 

 at the third joint, to get a further supply, to fill 

 the bed with bearing vines ; and as they advance 

 in growth, train them in proper order over all 

 parts of the bed. 



It will be requisite to admit air every day, 

 except in exceedingly cold weather, by tilting 

 the glasses at the back, in proportion to the heat 

 of the bed and the temperature of the atmos- 

 phere, closing the lights by degrees in the after- 



