II.] 



THE AMERICAN GARDENER. 



45 



and coming to a point at the other. Each light is 

 lifted up, either at back or front of the frame, as 

 the wind may be, and the wedge, or tilter^ as it is 

 called, is put in, to hold the light up. But, if more 

 air be wanted, the lights may be shoved up, or 

 down ; and, in a fine day, actually taken off. 



81. When the plants come up, they will soon tell 

 you all about air ; for, if they have not enough, 

 they will draw up long-legged, and will have small 

 seed leaves, and, indeed, if too much deprived of 

 air, will drop down and die. Take care in time to 

 prevent this. Let them grow strong rather than 

 talL Short stems, broad seed leaves, very green; 

 these are the signs of good plants and proper ma- 

 nagement. 



82. It will be necessary to water. Take off a 

 light at a time, and water with a watering pot that 

 does not pour out heavily. Water just about sun- 

 set : and then shut down the lights ; and the heat 

 will then rise, and make the plants grow prodi- 

 giously. 



83. As soon as the plants are fairly up, thin 

 them, ledivin g four in an inch; and stir the ground 

 about, at the same time with your finger. This 

 will leave in the frame from twenty-five to thirty 

 thousand plants. If you want less, sow in w4de 

 rows and thinner in the row. But, above all things, 

 give air enough. Do not attempt to make the 

 i^ldiXiis grow fast. You are sure to destroy them, 

 if you make this attempt* Have patience. The 

 plants will be ready soon enough. Get them strong 

 and green ; and, to do this, you must give them 

 plenty of air. Remember, that, out of a thousand 

 failures in hot-bed culture, nine hundred and ninety- 

 nine arise from the giving of too little air. 



84. Before I proceed to the time of taking the 



