Tilt for Sashes of Hot-bed Frames. 239; 



through the different fields, on purpose that the water maybe 

 more gently introduced, and more speedily carried off. Sluices 

 are erected at the entries of the large canals, in such a manner 

 as that the water in the interior may be regulated to the 

 necessary depth, according to the season, and drawn off again 

 when necessary. 



Sowing, Sfc. — The ground is prepared for the reception of 

 the seed in the months of November, December, and January. 

 The work is principally performed by negroes, though some- 

 times horses and mules are employed. After the preparations 

 are completed, it is laid under water for a short time, after- 

 wards dried, and again irrigated, until about the beginning of 

 March, when the water is again drawn off, the canals cleaned 

 previously to sowing (should the canals and embankments be in 

 bad repair, the winter inundation is omitted, and that season 

 taken to make all complete), which commences about the 12th 

 of April, and is commonly over by the 20th of that month. 

 The rice is thickly sown in drills, about 9 in. apart, which 

 insures an abundant crop. 



As soon as the sowing is ended, the ground is laid underwater 

 to the depth of from 2 to 3 in. ; thus remaining till the first 

 leaves appear above the water. The ground is then laid dry, 

 cleaned, and again covered with water till the rice begins 

 to come into flower, unless, in the meantime, the heat of the 

 weather causes the water to become putrid ; in which case it 

 is let off, the crop cleaned again, if necessary, and immediately 

 fresh water admitted. At the commencement of the flower- 

 ing, irrigation is discontinued ; but, when ripening, should the 

 season be dry, water is introduced occasionally, just to moisten 

 the ground. 



Reaping and threshing are performed nearly in the same 

 manner as in this country. The cleaning mills are driven by 

 the return tides. I am. Sir, &c. 



Clapton Nursery, September, 1827. A. Middleton. 



Art. XXV. Abridged Communications. 



A BETTER Tilt for elevating the Sashes of Hot-bed Frames. — 

 Sir, Having seen accidents happen to lights of garden frames, 

 occasioned by sudden gusts of wmd, at a time when the plants 

 in the frames required a large quantity of air, and it was yet 

 not eligible to draw the lights quite off, 1 think, if some bet- 

 ter instrument for the elevation of the lights than any I 

 have hitherto observed were adopted, some at least of these 



