4J0 FORCING DEPARTMENT. 



effluvia from the bed to pass away. As soon as 

 the violent heat has subsided, the bed may be 

 moulded over to the depth of three or four inches, 

 and the seeds sown in pots from four to five inches 

 diameter, and plunged in the mould about half way 

 to the rims. In the course of a few days, after the 

 seeds are sown, the cotyledons of the plants will 

 begin to make their appearance ; and when these are 

 fully expanded, and the plants about two inches 

 high, it will be time to remove them into other pots, 

 by placing three plants in each, and giving a gentle 

 watering, with water of the temperature of the bed, 

 to settle the soil about the roots. 



Much care and attention are required at this criti- 

 cal season, to prevent the plants from damping off; 

 and the linings round the beds will require frequent 

 turnings and additions of fresh dung, to prevent the 

 heat from declining, which would, otherwise, soon 

 become not of a sufficient warmth for the plants. 

 The fruiting bed should also be got in readiness, and 

 made according to the directions above-mentioned 

 at this wintry period of the year. It is very desirable 

 to have a strong body of the fermenting materials 

 together, for the purpose of keeping up a good heat 

 throughout the severest months ; but as the season 

 gets advanced, the beds may be prepared of less 

 thickness than that specified. When the first, or 

 second rough leaf makes its appearance on the seed- 

 ling plant, it will be time to begin to prepare and 

 mould the beds upon which they are destined to 

 produce their fruit. The soil should be collected 

 under each light to the depth of 12 inches, and 



