June."] 



THE FORCING GARDEN. 



745 



way, that the water may easily run out of them ; then make a 

 strong lining of the prepared dung all round the beds, and, 

 by occasional augmentations, keep up the linings nearly to a 

 level with the surface of the earth in which the plants grow. 

 As soon as the linings have cast a strong heat into the beds, 

 scatter some flour of sulphur all over the plants, and keep as 

 strong a heat in the frames as the plants can bear. A heat of 

 120° will not destroy them, if the steam of the linings be pre- 

 vented from getting in among the plants. Water the plants 

 all over their leaves about once a week with clear water, 

 100° warm ; and if the sun shine, keep the lights, shut closely 

 down all day, and cover them up in the evening, leaving a 

 little air at each light all night, to prevent a stagnation of air 

 amongst the plants. Continue this process till the mildew and 

 insects disappear and the plants appear to grow freely, and 

 afterwards manage them in the usual way, taking care to keep 

 up a good heat in the linings. This method sets the old stag- 

 nated bed into a fermentation, which makes the moisture run 

 out of it, and dries it, so that water given to the plants has 

 free liberty to pass off. If the linings do not heat the air in 

 the frame sufficiently, let some of the earth in the inside, all 

 round the sides of the frame be removed, to let the heat of 

 the linings rise freely into the frame. If tlie plants be kept 

 in a healthy free-growing state, few insects and diseases will 

 attack them ; but if they be allowed to experience a check, 

 from want of sufficient heat, a too liberal supply of water, or 

 such like, then insects and diseases quickly follow." 



