ed, it cannot
be too strongly impressed on the mind of the horticulturist that upon
this greatly depends the success of his endeavours to mature them to any
degree of perfection.

In the remarks upon preserving the plants from a cold moisture, in the
most inclement weather, I have called to assistance what may be
technically termed an artificial sun; and as this most material point
may be perfectly understood I shall here describe it more particularly.

Keep the bed always wrapped up to nearly the top of the box with hay,
straw, or any kind of sweet litter; observing that hay, however
damaged, is certainly preferable; this will have the desired effect in
promoting a top heat, and obviating the difficulty above-mentioned, in
keeping the plants perfectly dry.

To those who are unacquainted with the management of a dung bed, a brick
one certainly appears more advantageous, in being attended with less
trouble to the horticulturist, though infinitely with more expense, both
in the building and consumption of dung: this, however, is a mistaken
idea, for nothing certainly can be more congenial to the growth of
either the cucumber or melon than a sweet steam heat: this essential
requisite, which may always be obtained by the process hereafter
described, can be but partially promoted in brick pits; for although
water, in its necessary application, may create a steam heat, it soon
evaporates; and the heat of the linings having to pass through the
bricks and tiles, it becomes dry, and quite incapable of affording any
nourishment to the plants.

The limited space in which the plants are confined in their growth by
brick pits, is also a very great objection to this mode of culture. That
they derive their chief support from the extremity of the roots must be
obvious to every one, and if these are concentred in the middle of the
bed, and thereby rendered incapable of expanding over the flues as in
the dung bed, they must be certainly deprived of that vigour which is
natural to them from a free and uninterrupted growth, and where they
experience the whole of the benefit that can arise from the bed in which
they are placed. In short, the dung bed in so many instances is superior
to brick pits, that competition in the culture of either the cucumber or
melon by the latter plan would be entirely useless; for whether in the
vigour of the plants, quickness of growth, or production of fine fruit,
the dung bed, systematically attended to,