By Mr. Thomas Allen. 



m 



should be placed on the dung, under the centre of each light. 

 On the mat, place one bushel of prepared compost, con- 

 sisting of loam and rotten horse or cow dung, about equal 

 parts, well incorporated together. Put a slight covering on 

 the lights until next morning, when the mould will be suffi- 

 ciently warmed to receive the plants, or rather plant, for I 

 have found that a single plant brings finer fruit and of more 

 vigorous growth than when two or three plants are put under 

 a light, as is the common practice. 



In ridging out, make a hole in the top of the hillock large 

 enough to receive the ball of earth, in which the roots are, en- 

 tire, leaving the top of the plant, three inches from the glass ; 

 the mould should then be dressed up round the hillock and be 

 pressed close to the roots, and within one inch of the seed 

 leaves of the plant, these at no time of earthing should be 

 covered with mould, for that is very apt to cause canker. 

 The earth should be kept within the bounds of the straw 

 mat, and not be suffered to mix with the dung, as that 

 would cause a burning, which is not only troublesome, but in 

 many instances, fatal to the prosperity of the plant, because 

 if the earth is once burnt, its vegetative quality is destroyed, 

 and water will have no effect on it. The only remedy in such 

 case is to remove the mould, fork up and water the dung, 

 lay on a little rye straw, and replace the earth. 



After ridging out, the lights may be kept close for an 

 hour or two, according to the temperature of the bed and 

 the weather, then give air from a quarter to one inch in 

 the day, and the former quantity by night, this will pro- 

 mote the health and prevent an elongation of the joints 

 of the plants. The covering must be very slight for the 



VOL. VI. S 



