674 



THE TRACTICAL GARDENER. 



upon it place six or eight inches of short dung, such as has 

 lallcn upon the ground round the bed in the process of making 

 it ; level the whole, and, as soon as finished, place the framcv 

 and lights upon it, which should be kept closely shut down until 

 the heat rise briskly. If it be slow in rising, cover the lights 

 with mats for a day or two. As soon as the heat rises, open 

 *he sashes a little, to let the rank steam pass freely off'. 



The beds being thus finished, and the heat sufficiently up, 

 it is then in a fit state for earthing over, forming the hills for 

 llie rece[)tion of the plants, &c. Before laying on the mould, 

 take otr the frame and lights, and level the surface equally 

 over, if much sunk into irregularities in the process of heating. 

 The whole being regulated, and the frame and lights being 

 replaced, proceed to cover the whole surface of the bed witlt 

 rich dry light mould, which, for this purpose it is presumed, 

 has been prepared during the summer, and a portion of it 

 placed under cover, so as to be dry and ready for use when 

 wanted. The thickness that this mould should be put on, 

 need not be more than two or three inclies, just merely suf- 

 ficient to prevent too much rank steam at any time filling the 

 frame, lender the centre of each light, place on a little hill 

 about one l)ushel of the same mould, upon which the plants 

 are to be phmted as soon as the heat is sufficiently up, so as 

 to warm tlie mould in the hills to a sufficient temperature. 

 The higher these hills are kept the Ix^tter, so as to admit of 

 sufficient space for the plants, in order that they may not touch 

 the glass. 



The reason for planting the plants upon these hills, instead 

 of not earthing the bed all over at once, is merely by way of 

 precaution in case of violent after-heats ; in which case, it will 

 more readily pass off' in steam between the hills, as well as 

 offering the advantage of using the beds a few days sooner 

 than if it were all earthed over at once to its full depth. Jf 

 the beds should heat too violently after the plants are in, the 

 roots of them can be more readily prevented from sustaining 

 injury, by drawing the mould away from round the sides and 

 from under the bottoms of the hills, and supplying the place 

 with fresh mould. 



The beds being thus finished, in two or three days they will 



