IN HOTBEDS. 299 



with mats, &c. ; and when the plants are in a 

 growing state, admit air daily when mild, and 

 more freely when the sun shines, and especially 

 when in bloom, and the fruit is setting. Support 

 the heat when it declines by linings of hot dung, 

 and treat the plants in every other respect as 

 directed for their culture in the hothouse. 



If convenient to have ten or twelve inches of 

 bark to place on the top of the dung hotbed 

 instead of mould, to plunge the pots in, it will 

 prove of advantage to the crops. On the other 

 hand, when the plants are intended for the bark 

 pit without pots, mould should be placed on the 

 bark, about six inches thick, to receive the 

 plants ; although the plants will grow, and often 

 do tolerably well, by being planted in the bark. 



When the plants have not been properly pre- 

 pared for forcing, as before directed, or not a 

 sufficiency for the purposes required, some plants 

 may be taken up from the natural beds in the 

 open ground, and be immediately potted, or 

 transplanted with balls direct in the hotbed. 

 Observe, in bark-bed forcing, should the heat 

 become very weak, take up the pots and fork up 



