434 FORCING DEPARTMENT. 



placed in a situation to dry previous to their being 

 inserted in the mould, or they maybe accelerated in 

 one of the Forcing-Houses, or other frames at work, 

 in flower pots or boxes, and transplanted into hot 

 beds prepared for their reception, as soon as they 

 appear in a fit state to receive them. The plants, 

 or sets, should be placed in rows from 10 to 12 

 inches apart, and from four to five inches in the 

 rows. 



When the bed is completed, if planted with 

 Potatoes previously excited, a little aired water 

 should be given to settle the soil around their roots. 

 But when the sets are inserted in the ground, 

 without being previously forced, no water will be 

 necessary, as the steam and moisture arising from 

 the bed will be quite sufficient. The lights must 

 be carefully covered with bass mats during the 

 night, but a large admission of air allowed daily, 

 when the weather will permit. Should the heat of 

 the bed decline before the crop is nearly matured, 

 an application of dung must be had to the linings, 

 which will infuse a fresh heat in the bed, and pro- 

 mote the growth of the Potatoes. The internal 

 atmosphere should be kept from 50 to 60 degrees. 

 When the stalks have advanced in growth from six 

 to eight inches, an additional supply of mould 

 should be carefully put in betwixt the rows, as a 

 landing for them. As the stalk proceeds in growth, 

 and the weather becomes warm, water may be more 

 freely administered, regulating the supply to the 

 condition of the bed, which must always be kept in 

 a moist vegetating state. Potatoes are often success- 



