Feb.] 



THE FORCING GARDEN. 



G77 



may therefore be postponed a little longer ; but too much de- 

 pendence should not be placed upon this covering ; for if the 

 bed once becomes cold, the plants will sustain a very serious 

 injury before it is possible to get up the temperature again 

 sufficiently strong. Should the linings, when aj^plied, at any 

 time raise too much heat into the bed, they can be drawn a 

 little back all round the frame, so as to allow the escape of 

 their heat, and be again placed close when it is necessary to 

 admit greater heat. 



A bed properly put up, if of good materials, should last, 

 with a little protection, as hinted at above, for three weeks, 

 but seldom longer at this season. Without the aid of linings, 

 it will often happen, however, that beds of excellent materials 

 will not retain a sufficient heat so long. At all times, and 

 under all circumstances, this is only to be ascertained by a 

 daily examination of the beds. 



For the first three or four weeks after planting out, great 

 attention should be paid that the roots of the plants sustain no 

 injury from over-heats ; for it not unfrequently happens, that 

 beds put up for some time, and when even earthed all over 

 to their full depth, will heat a second time so violently, as to 

 render the plants, when even well established, in great danger 

 of being burnt at their roots. To guard more effisctually 

 against such accidents, many persons place a piece of turf 

 under the hills before they are formed, and this precaution may 

 ^2 attended to as the trouble is not great ; but the most effec- 

 tual means of preventing burning at the roots, is by a daily 

 examination of the mould at their roots : when that appears 

 dried up, or has too much beat in it, which can be always 

 readily ascertained by thrusting in the hand, the mould so 

 dried, or over-heated, should be gently removed, and re- 

 placed with frcsli, as already observed. The hills may also 

 be reduced as much as possible, leaving them just sufficient 

 basis to stand upon, without danger of falling ; in this state 

 they may remain till all danger of burning be over, when the 

 mould may be again replaced to their original size. 



If every thing has succeeded, in the course of eight or ton 

 days the young roots will be beginning to show thenjselves a!l 

 round the hills: this is looked upon as the first symptom ot 



