84 RANUNCULUSES, 
upon the ground, till it has been per- 
fe£lly frozen throughout, in order to 
deftroy any vermin it may have con¬ 
tained, more particularly the common 
earth worms; thefe are extremely de- 
ftru&ive, both to the feed and the young 
plants, which they draw into their holes 
for nutriment, from a very confider- 
able diftance. 
When the pit is filled up again, with 
the frozen lumps of earth, it fhould 
remain till the whole mafs has thawed, 
and fubfided to its priftine bulk, or 
nearly fo; its furface fhould then be 
made perfeftly fmooth and even, and the 
feed fown upon it with the utmoft regu¬ 
larity, in fuch quantity as nearly to cover 
it; the glaffes fhould be placed over it 
immediately, and the frame kept clolely 
covered with them, for two or three 
days, till the feed begins to fwell and 
foften j 
