66 will not be so well shaped as their parents; but long ears, fine full eyes, mane thick and flowing, pass with the Horse when sold, and in them conif a small ram be put to larger ewes, the lambs long forehead, shoulders and breast large, also sists a material part of his value. The prejuwill be of an improved form. The improve-the carcase, the croup round and full, yet the dices of the people, concurring with their leading ment, says Cline, depends on this principle-that loins rather too low. Legs clean and the sinews interest, we need entertain the less suspicion of the power of the female to supply her offspring distinct, pasterns often too long, like the Barbs; their fidelity, which is further confirmed by the with nourishment is in proportion to her size, feet long and deep, like those of the mule, with tetimony of ages in their favour, by the appaand to the power of nourishing herself from the high and narrow heels." rent marks of purity and integrity in their excellence of her constitution. The size of the Having given a general outline of the Horse, breed, and by the unrivalled excellence of those fœtus is generally in proportion to that of the male as he is at this day found in Europe, Britain ex- animals in which they deal, and disperse over so parent, and therefore, when the female parent is cepted, and in part of the Russian dominions, I many countries." disproportionably small, the quantity of nourish-proceed to trace him in Asia, Africa and South- “The Arabian Horses are never of any very ment is deficient, and her offspring has all the ern America; concluding with our own coun- large size, seldom indeed reaching the height of disproportions of a starveling. But when the fe- try, and the United American States, where the fifteen hands. They excel in sleekness and flexmale, from her size and good constitution, is subject rises into its highest degree of import-ibility of the skin, and in general symmetry, more than adequate to the nourishment of alance." from the head to the lower extremities. The fœtus of a smaller male than herself, the growth "In the Asiatic dominions of Rusia, and in eye is full and shining, the head joined, not abruptmust be proportionately greater. The larger fe- Asiatic Turkey, we begin to meet with the un-ly, but to a curved extremity of the neck; the male has also a greater quantity of milk, and her mixed Southern Horse. It has already been shoulders capacious, deep and counter, or inclinoffspring is more abundantly supplied with nou- stated, that the originals of this species are found ing to flat, and declining considerably into the rishment after birth. exclusively in Arabia and Barbary; and the spe-waste; the quarters deep, and the fore arms To produce the most perfect formed animals, cies is produced in the greater perfection, in and thighs long, large and muscular, with a abundant nourishment is necessary, from the the circumjacent countries, in proportion to their considerable curve of the latter; the legs flat and earliest period of its existence, until its growth proximity to its indigenous soils. But it degen-clean, with the tendon or sinew large and distinct; is complete. erates both in the high Southern latitudes, and the pasterns moderately long, the feet some (f.) The following extracts are taken from a ve- in any considerable advance towards the East; what deep; the substance of the hoofs fine, like ry elegant work in our Agricultural Library-en- thus, Horses are not found in perfection either that of the deer. This general description may titled "The History and delineation of the in Southern Africa, India or China; but of great-suffice until we come to treat of the English Horse," &c. &c. by John Lawrence-wherein the ly diminished size, and although bearing the ex-Race-Horse, inseparably connected with the author, as a naturalist and a scholar, treats of ternal conformation of the blood Horse, almost Arabian." "The Arabians breed their Horses for sale the appropriate uses, management, and pro- totally divested of his admirable qualifications." gresssive improvement of each variety; with a "I shall begin with the original coursers, the and exportation, and I understand are always particular investigation of the character of the Arabian and the Barb, proceeding to notice their ready to part with those of their most esteemed Race Horse, and the business of the turf, illus-varieties, and their bastard produce, in those breeds, for an adequate price, which may sometrated by anecdotes and biographical notices of countries of nearly the same parallel, or where- times amount to five hundred pounds or upwards, distinguished sportsmen. The work exhibits ex-ever they are found. Of these Horses, we are others being attainable at, perhaps, a tenth part quisite engravings from original paintings of Fly-enabled to speak with all the certainty of expe- of that sum. It is said they are not so willing ing Childers, Eclipse, and many other celebra- rimental observation, their species having long to part with their mares. Perhaps Aleppo, Suez, ted English horses; and contains instructions for been naturalized in this country, from successive Bassorah, on the Persian gulph, Mecca and Mobreeding, breaking, training, and the general importations of individuals, within the last two cha in Arabia Felix, may be quoted as the reamanagement of the horse, both in a state of hundred years. Arabia Deserta is allowed to be diest places of access to the true breed of Arahealth and of disease; we propose, as the occa- the breeding country of the purest and highest bian coursers. But Horses under the general Edit. Am. Farmer. sion and circumstances suit, to make copious ex-bred Racers, that is to say, possessed in the names of Arabians, are imported into Europe, tracts from this work-under the highly grati- highest degree, of those qualities which distin- from all parts of the East, where they are almost fying belief that the agricultural publick is guish the species, and which are generally best invariably purchased by persons totally unskilled, awakening to a proper sense of the interests they ascertained in their produce. This "glory of unless, perhaps, a few exceptions may be made, ought to feel in the improvement, and proper Arabian zoology," is found in the Northern part with respect to military purchasers; and they, of the desert, between Suez and Persia, and is as such, had they power of selection, would management of this noble animal. bred by the Bedouin Arabs." scarcely choose the true courser, inferior, in a “Having given a concise general view of "The Arabians divide their Horses in three military view, to Persian, Egyptian or Turkish the history of the Horse, in ancient times, and classes: the Kochlani, or Kehilani, the Kehidischi, horses." of the progress which had been made by the and the Attichi. The first are the noble, as they "The last accounts we have from the deserts, ancients, in equitation and management, it re- are styled, or the original high-bred coursers, confirm those of the old travellers, respecting mains to proceed with the same subjects, and to the produce of the middle, or mountainous coun- the mode of life of the wandering Arabs, or Bedescribe their actual state in various countries, at try, the blood of which has been preserved pure douins, and their treatment of their cattle; in the present day." and uncontaminated by any alien mixture or fact, the customs of these people seem as stable The finest and most valuable races of Horses, cross, as the Arabs pretend, for more than two and permanent as the very earth on which they are still found in those countries, which were dis- thousand years. However, we may justly doubt dwell, and he who would wish to prepare himtinguished by the same superiority more than the accuracy of an account like this, in an affair self for the ceremonial of an entertainment in an two thousand years ago. From thence have that must necessarily be liable to accidental, as Arab tent, could not do better, than rehearse breeds of all other countries been improved, and well as wilful deviations, implicit credit is cer- a lesson from some early chapter in the Old Testhe most valuable properties of the genus have tainly often given to less credible reports. The tament. It is said that the Horse is so general a been derived from the South-Eastern Horse.-Arabians are, above all nations, attached to their property in those countries, that even the meanOccasional recourse is still had to the Levant, Horses, and the most scrupulous, both with re-est among the Arabs, possess some of them. As for Stallions, by every nation in Europe, desi-gard to their pedigrees, and their care and pre- in the Irish cabin, so in the Bedouin tent, the rous of improving or preventing the degenera- caution in breeding. The names, marks, colours, whole family, quadruped as well as biped, eat, tion of their breed, the case even in our own age and qualifications of all the superior stal-drink and sleep, and are sheltered together; in country, although we have long since excelled in lions, and mares, are generally known among the latter, mares and foals, men, women, and figure, size, form and every valuable quality, the the breeders of that country, as among the children, take their rest promiscuously; and oftbest models which the original breeding countries breeders of Race-horses in this; but they carry times are to be seen the heads of a child and a could produce." their scrupulosity and precaution far beyond us. foal, reclined on the same pillow, the belly, breast "The Spanish Horses of the present time, of On the covering a mare, witnesses are called, or neck of a mare. Nor do the parents apprewhich I have seen some of the best specimens, who give a solemn certificate of the consumma-hend any danger from such license, for it is as are of a larger breed than of old, and appear to tion, signed and sealed in the presence of the serted, that the mares and foals, will not only have a considerable mixture of the Northern emir, or some magistrate. The names and pe- permit all kinds of play from the children, but blood, the foundation of which change might, pro-digrees of the horse and mare are set forth in that the former have the sagacity and sensibility bably, be laid during the connexion of their mo- this instrument. This ceremony is repeated to tread with caution, least they should hurt narchy with the Empire of Germany." when the foal is dropped, and a fresh certifi- them. Nor need this be looked upon as without "The Spanish resemble some of the English cate is signed, in which the day of birth is re- the verge of probability, at least I do not regard half and three part-blood Horses. The head ra-gistered, and the foal particularly described.-it, because I have myself had a mare, endowed ther large and coarse, sometimes Roman-nosed; These vouchers, like the title-deeds of an estate, with similar faculties of good nature and intel THE AMERICAN GARDENER; Or a Treatise on the Situation, Soil, Fencing and Laying-Out of Gardens; on the making and Managing of Hot Beds and Green-Houses; and on the Propagation and Cultivation of the several sorts of Vegetables, Herba, Fruits and Flowers.-BY WILLIAM COB(Continued from page 299.) BETT. CHAPTER II. ligence, and have repeatedly witnessed her care year, they are supported on barley straw, barto avoid hurting inferior animals. She would ley, camel's milk, and perhaps dates. race and gambol, and play with me, or with her "The horse furniture of the lower classes is groom, in the field, like a favourite Spaniel; and most simple, and many ride, as has been said, when mounted on her, I was assured in case of in the primitive style, without either bridle or accident, I had nothing to fear, either from af- saddle: but amongst the superior, the Turkish fright or carelessness, far less vice in her; and I saddle is in use, having the posterior part, or have no doubt, had I ever fallen from her, and cantle, so high, as to reach half way up the rimy foot hung in the stirrup, that she would have der's back; and flat stirrups which contain the instantly stopped, until I had extricated myself; whole foot, the toe of the stirrup iron being in truth, I owed much, perhaps my life, to her made sharp, to answer the intent of a spur. care. Horses are confirmed in this way, by kind They use no girths, ride excessively short, and On the making and Managing of Hot Beds and and considerate treatment. The Arabians treat are expert in all those feats of horemanship the horses, habitually, even with the utmost which depend on the equilibre, and which have fondness, having neither the desire nor the ne-been already adverted to, in the practice of the eessity of beating them, the generous and docile ancients." animals, do every thing which is required of them, in consequence of indication and persuasion:—hence, probably, the kindness and generosity of temper supposed to be inherent, and a characteristic in the Arabian horse." In the ho Green-houses. 63. I am not about to lay down rules for per"Here follows an Arabian pedigree, which sons who can afford to have cucumbers in March. was hung about the neck of the horse. Various This amounts to something little short of folly in old pedigrees of Arabians are in print; this is England: in America it would be something probably the latest, the horse being brought worse. But, Hot Beds, as things of real use, from Egypt with our troops, a few years since, because in the former country, the winter will not are more necessary in America than in England; "It is remarkable, that we have, in all pro- by Col. Ainsley :bability, derived from the Arabians, the comsuffer to exist in the open air many plants, which "In the name of God, the merciful and com-are wanted to start with the warm sun, and which mon custom of throwing water upon the back of the mare, the instant of the descent of the passionate, and of Seed Mahommed, Agent of plants the winter will suffer to exist in the open horse. They have another custom of shearing the High God, and of the companions of Ma-air in England. The American Spring bears no off the hair of their foals at eighteen months hommed and of Jerusalem. Praised be the Lord resemblance to that of England, which comes on old, in order to promote its growth. At two the Omnipotent Creator. This is a high-bred by degrees from the end of February to the beyears old, or two years and a half, at longest, horse, and its colts'-tooth is here in a bag, hung ginning of June: while the American Spring the foals are taken in hand and taught their du- about his neck, with his pedigree, and of un- cannot be said to be of a fortnight's duration. ty; and those horses, or rather mares, (for the doubted authority, such as no infidel can refuse There is in fact, no Spring: there is a Winter, Arabs, like their forefathers, and for the same the dam Lahahdadah, and equal in power to his none would ever have been thought of, if the to believe. He is the son of Rabbamy, out of a Summer and an Autumn, but no Spring; and reasons it is said, always prefer mares) are constantly kept bridled and saddled at the door sire, of the tribe Zazahalah ; he is finely mould-word had not come from Europe along with many of the tent, throughout the whole day. It has ed, and made for running like an ostrich, and others equally inapplicable. been said, that they are, in that place, made great in his stroke and his cover. 64. This sudden transition from a winter, fast by one of the fore legs, and that the leg be-nours of relationship, he reckons Zalicah, sire which not only puts a total stop to, but effaces of Mahat, sire of Kellac, and the Unique Alket, sire all traces of vegetation, to a summer, which, in of Manasseh, sire of Alsheh, father of the race down to the famous horse, the sire of Lahalla; and them into life, sets the sap in rapid motion, and an instant, creates swarms of insects, or warms to him be ever abundance of green meat, and corn, and water of life, as a reward from the tribe of in six days, turns a brown rye-field into a sheet weather, and unfed; for by custom, they are never Zazahalah, for the fire of his cover; and may a of the gayest verdure; this sudden transition fed in the day time, but allowed water several thousand branches shade his carcase from the well chastened by the frost, smoking with ferpresents the gardener, or the farmer, with ground times. At sun set, they are fed for the night, hyena of the tomb, from the howling wolf of the mentation, and with a sun ready to push forward with the liberal allowance, if we may credit desert, and let the tribe of Zazahalah present travellers, of half a bushel of well sifted him with a festival within an enclosure of walls; every plant; but, alas! he has no plants! I know, that there are persons, who do preserve barley to each nag, given in a bag which is left and let thousands assemble at the rising of the fastened to the head. In March, the grass sea- sun, in troops hastily, where the tribe holds up winter, and that there are persons, who rear them lettuce, cabbage, and other plants, during the son in those countries, the horses are either soiled under a canopy of celestial signs, within the at home, or turned loose into the pastures, walls, the saddle with the name and family of whilst the grass lasts, which cannot be long in the possessor. Then let them strike their hands, such a climate. During the other seasons of the with a noise, incessantly, and pray to God for immunity, for the tribe of Zoab, the inspired Naturalists tell us that ardour of temperament (g) Purser Hambleton had mentioned to tribe." in the male, so necessary to successful sexual the Editor, a beautiful race of milk cattle in embraces, is hurtful in the female, and almost always prevents conception-hence the custom Italy, of mahogany colour. comes often stiffened, or injured, in consequence." "In the above situation, these animals remain unsheltered, whatever may be the state of the is, to render the work easy to farmers in partion Hot-beds in the Spring; but what I aim at, cular; not only as the means of supplying their tables, but the stalls of their cattle, and the yards of their sheep and pigs. In the summer (a miles of my house in Long Island, had a loaved cruelly dry one) of 1819, who, within many cabbage, except myself? During June, July and August, I allowed fifteen a day for my own of inflicting blows, and "throwing water" im- (h) This is the valuable breed of a bull and cow family: I gave ten a day to one neighbour; to mediately on the consummation of the act upon imported by Com. Bainbridge, and now the proper- others I gave about five hundred, perhaps, first the crupper of the she ass, which is represented as ty of John Middleton, Esq. of S. Carolina, where and last; and, the plants were all raised in one amongst the most lascivious of all animals,-in we hope they will be properly estimated, as they single light, four feet by three and a half, on a the case of the dog and the cat, yet more ardent, undoubtedly constitute one of the most valuable hot-bed, made on the 19th of March. The hotnature has provided a peculiar structure of the acquisitions ever made in the Southern states. bed had six lights altogether, and was about machinery of generation, which prevents the These cattle were some time in the possession twenty feet long; but, the part appropriated to retreat of the male until the convulsions of the of the Editor, who became convinced by person- these cabbages was only four feet by three and a internal organs have had time to be appeased. al observation that for activity and adaptation to half. The plants came out of this bed on the We would have the reader to recollect, that all kinds of farm labour, and for capacity to 20th of April, and were planted three inches some views of natural history connect them-withstand the heat of a Southern climate, they apart on another bed, without glass, but covered selves with the leading topicks of this Journal. tully justify the character here given by Com. at night with a cloth. On the 20th of May, they In fact, we mean to make natural history itself, Jones-the colour, form, and texture of their were planted out in the open ground; and, on one of its leading features, and of course we skin, all indicate these capacities-we repeat the 17th of June we began to eat them. All are sometimes forced to have recourse to illus- the hope that they may be duly appreciated and these cabbages, Early Dwarfs, Early Yorks, trations of a character that we would otherwise fully tested. Sugar Loaves, and Battersea, (coming in one avoid-we must endeavour to employ terms the (With respect to cows for milk, we have sort after the other) amounting to about four least offensive, to make ourselves understood, nothing to gain from abroad-except, perhaps thousand in number, stood, when planted out, and trust for the rest to the good sense of those the Ayrshire cow of Scotland, mentioned by Sirupon rather less than thirty rods of ground; and who choose to follow us in our investigations-John Sinclair. the earliest sorts, while we were using them so we are onscious of the best intentions, and (k) We had been told they were of superi-berally, were selling in New York market at "home qui mal y pense." or quality at Trieste, by Major W. B. Barney. from 6 to 4 pence a piece. 65. To preserve during Winter, such a num-the Lights ready, I shall suppose them to be heat be too great, give the bed a little air and ber of plants, or, indeed, any number, however prepared. I suppose a three-light Frame, four wait till a little of the heat be gone off. small, is a work of great difficulty, and is mere-feet wide and nine feet long, which, of course, 76. The earth should be dry; not like dust; ly chance-work after all. Besides, fall-sown plants will make every Light three feet wide and four but not wet. I made provision for my bed, by are not so good as spring-sown. They become long; because, the long way of the light fits, putting earth in my cellar, in November. It is stunted; and they very frequently go off to seed, of course, the cross way of the Frame. Farmer. not much that is wanted. The bed is to be of them. instead of producing loaves. However, it is not 72. Now, then, to the work of making the bed. covered all over, about six inches deep. When my business to treat here of cultivation: I am The front of the bed is, of course, to be full the earth has been on twenty four hours, take off here to speak of the Making and Managing of South, so that the noon sun may come right upon the lights, and stir the earth well with your hot-beds. This must, of course, include a des- the glass. The length and width of the bed hands; for hands are the only tools used in a cription of the Wood and Glass, when formed must be those of the Frame. Therefore, take hot-bed. When you have stirred the earth well, into Frames and Lights. But, first of all, I must the Frame itself, and place it on the spot which and made it level and smooth, you may sow your treat of the making of the bed. you mean the bed to stand on. See that you have seed, if you do not find the earth too hot. But, 66. The materials of which the bed is to be it rightly placed; and then, with a pointed stick, observe, the earth is to be level, and not sloping, composed, and the manner of preparing those make a mark in the ground all round the outside like the glass. The glas is sloping to meet the materials, are first to be spoken of. of the Frame. Then take the Frame away. sun, and to turn off the wet; but, the earth must 67. Dung of horses, cattle, sheep or pigs, is Then take some sharp-pointed straight stakes, lie perfectly level; and this, you will observe, is used to make the bed of. Either may be made to and drive them in the ground, at each corner of a very great point. do, with a greater or less degree of care and trou- this marked-out place for the bed, and one or two 77. Next comes the act of sowing. The more ble; but, the best possible thing is dung from on the back and on the front side. Let these be handsomely this is done, the better it is done. A the stable, taken away before it has been rotted, about four feet high. They are to be your handsome dress is better than an ugly one, not short and long promiscuously, but rather long guides in building the bed; and, they ought, because it is warmer, or cooler, but because, than short. If there be a large proportion of therefore, to be very straight, and to be placed liking it better, being more pleased with it, we short it may have any litter added to it; any herfectly upright. Each stake may be placed take more care of it. Those who have seen too broken straw or hay or corn stalks, in order to about an inch further out than the mark on or three women together, crossing dirty streets, make a due mixture of long and short. the ground; for fear of having the bed too nar- or in danger from horses or carriages, where the 68. This choosing of the materials being a row; though, observe, the bed should be as near-volunteer assistance of men became useful; those very important point, I shall, in order to make ly the same length and breadth as the Frame as philosophers, who have been spectators of scenes my instructions clear, suppose a case, and such a it is practicable to make it. like this, cannot have failed to discover, that case as will be very clear to every American 73. In order to begin the work well, it is a humanity, like smoke, is very apt to fly to the very good way, to put some boards on their fairest; and I much question whether Nicodemus 69. By the month of March he has always a edges, on the ground, at the ends and sides, on Broadbrim himself, if he saw a pretty girl and heap of dung, which has, from time to time, the insides of the stakes; so as to have a sort of an ugly one stuck in the mud, would not give his been thrown out of his stable, during the winter open box to begin to make the bed in. The eye hand to the former. He would hand them both and fall. This is some long and some short. Let of a gardener scorns such assistance; but it is out to a certainty; but, he would extricate the the whole of this (supposing there to be three very useful to persons unused to the work. pretty one first. There is a great deal in the horses kept) be taken; and, in addition, a pretty 74. Thus, all being prepared, you begin malook of our gardens and fields; and, surely, in so good wagon load of long stained stuff from the king the bed. Begin taking the dung on the diminutive a concern as a hot-bed, all ought to be cow-yard, or sheep-yard. Toss it down in a side of your heap nearest to the spot where you neat and regular. Seeds are great tell-tales; heap, near where you are going to make the bed. are building the bed. Keep taking up clean to for, when they come up, we discover all the careThen begin on one side of it, and take the stuff the ground. Have shovel as well as fork. Take lessness that may have prevailed at the sowing and begin making a fresh heap of it. Shake long and short fairly, and mix them well as you every fork full well to pieces, and mix well the put them in. Shake the stuff in such a way as 78. When you have taken off all the lights, long with the short; and thus go on, till you not to suffer any lumps. Shake every straw from make little drills with your finger, from the back have the whole in a round heap rising to a point. every other straw. Let the bed rise in all parts of the bed to the front, half an inch deep and 70. The second day after this heap is made together as nearly as possible. That is to say, about an inch a-part. Make them equi-distant, it will begin to send forth steam. Let it remain do not put much in one part at one time. Beat parallel, and straight. Then drop in your Cab three days in this state; that is to say, four clear the whole down with the fork as you proceed. bage seeds along the drills, very thin; but, twenty days after the day of making the heap. Then When you have shaken on dung to the thickness seeds, perhaps in an inch; for, some will not turn the heap back again; shaking all well to of four or five inches, beat all over well again; and grow, and some may be pulled up when they appieces, as before, and bringing to the inside that so on, till the work be finished. But mind: you pear. It is better to have rather too many than part of the stuff which was before on the outside must be very careful to keep the edges of the bed too few. When you have dropped in your of the heap. Let it remain now three clear well beaten; or else they will be more hollow, seeds all over the bed, and distinguished the days after the day of turning. Then turn it and will sink more, than the rest, and then the several sorts of Cabbages by names, or numbers, again; shaking well to pieces, as before, and earth on the bed will crack in the middle. Beat written on a bit of paper, and put into the cleft bringing again the outside stuff to the inside. them well; keep them well up as you proceed; of a little stick, stuck in the ground; then cover When it has remained two clear days in this beat well the sides of the bed, as it goes on rising. all the seeds over neatly and smoothly. Put on state, it is fit to make the bed with. Comb the sides frequently down with the tines the lights; and look upon your spring work as 71. In the making the bed you will proceed of the fork. And, in short, make the sides happily begun. as directed below; but I must first describe the upright, and smooth and neat as a wall. As you 79. But now we come to the management of Frame and the Lights. Were I speaking to per-proceed, measure the height frequently, in the a hot-bed. And, observe, that the main princisons living in a country, where there is no such different parts of the bed, to see that you are ple is, always to give as much air as the plants thing as a hot-bed frame, I should be obliged keeping the height every where the same. At will endure. I have always observed, that the to enter into a detailed mechanical description. last, shovel and sweep up all the short earthy great and prevalent error is an endeavour to ob But, as Frames and Lights are to be seen in al-stuff round the bed and where your dung-heap tain, by exclusion of air, something to make up most every considerable town in America; and, was, and lay it very smoothly on the top of the for the want of bottom heat. It is not thus that as I have known very few American Farmers, bed; and make all as smooth and as level as a nature operates. She gives the air as well as the who are not able to make both with their own die with the back of your shovel. heat; and, without the former she gives nothing. hands, without any help from either carpenter 75. Thus the bed is made. Then put on the suppose the hot-bed, made as above, to be or glazier, it will be necessary merely for me to Frame, and fix it nicely. Then put the Lights about four feet high, when just finished. It will say, that the Frame is of the best shape when it upon the Frame. If you finish your bed by sink as it heats; and will, at last, come to about a is eighteen inches deep at the back and nine noon, the heat will begin to rise by the next morn-foot and a half. Its heat will gradually diminish; inches deep at the front. This gives slope enough, ing; and by the noon of the second day after but, it will give a great heat for about six weeks; and especially in a country where there is so the bed is made, the heat will be up. Poke your and some heat for four months. It is this bottom little rainy weather. The Frame is the wood finger as deep as you can into the middle of the heat that makes things grow. The sun is often work, on which the Lights, or glass-work, are bed, when you have taken off one of the Lights. hot in May; but, it is not till the earth is warm laid. There needs no more than a good look at If the heat be so great as to burn your finger; that vegetation advances with rapidity. a thing of this sort to know how to make it, or that is to say, if you cannot endure the heat; 80. Having secured the bottom heat, make to order it to be made. And, as it is useless to then it is too great to receive the earth; but, if free with the air. Even before the seeds begin make a hot-bed without having the Frame and not, put on the earth all over the bed. If the to appear, giye air to the bed every day, unless it be very cold weather indeed. The usual way than under a wall, or even a house. A wall will Cabbage Plant, as a subject for explaining my of giving air is by bits of thick board, cut in the not save your ears from the sharp winds so meaning, because I think that the raising of that shape of a triangle, or rather, like a wedge, broad effectually as even a thin hedge. The American plant is one of the most useful purposes, to which at one end, and coming to a point at the other. farmer knows well the warmth that walls of a hot-bed can be applied in America. Each light is lifted up, either at back or front of Corn-Stalks afford. 90. But, a Hot-Bed may be applied to many the frame, as the wind may be, and the wedge, 85. However, it is not to be presumed, that a other purposes. Lettuces may be raised in it. or tilter, as it is called, is put in, to hold the light Hot-Bed Ground will be made by every farmer; Pepper-grass, Raddishes, young Onions, may be up. But, if more air be wanted, the lights may and, therefore, before 1 proceed further with raised. Parsley-roots may be put in, and fine be shoved up, or down; and, in a fine day, actu- my instructions about it, let me proceed upon parsley obtained in March. Asparagus may be ally taken off. the supposition, that the aforementioned bed is raised in this way. It is not worth while to 81. When the plants come up, they will soon made in some open place. In this case it will attempt to bring Cucumbers and Melons to fruit tell you all about air; for, if they have not be necessary to use some precautions as to in a hot-bed: but the plants may be raised there, enough, they will draw up long-legged, and will shelter. and afterwards put out in the ground with great have small seed leaves, and, indeed, if too much 86. While the dung is working, before it be advantage in point of time. Several sorts of deprived of air, will drop down and die. Take made into the bed, it must, in case of very sharp annual flowers and of Green-house plants may be care in time to prevent this. Let them grow frost, be covered, especially on the North and got forward by a hot-bed, which, without it, can strong rather than tall. Short stems, broad seed North West sides. If it be not, it will freeze on hardly be got at all to any great degree of perleaves, very green; these are the signs of good these sides, and, of course, it will not ferment. fection. Of the management of these sorts of plants and proper management. However, this is no troublesome job; you have plants in a hot-bed I shall speak under their se 82. It will be necessary to water. Take off a only to throw on a parcel of straw, or stalks; veral names; but on the management of hotlight at a time, and water with a watering pot and take them off again, when the frost relaxes. beds, there yet remain to be made some obserthat does not pour out heavily. Water just When the bed is made, this is what I did. I drove vations, which have a general application. about sun-set; and then shut down the lights; some stakes down, four feet distant from the 91. As to heat and air it will demand but little and the heat will then rise; and make the plants bed, opposite the North Side and the West End. attention to manage well. But a little Thermogrow prodigiously. I tacked a pole from stake to stake; and then I meter, hung up, or laid down, in the bed, will 83. As soon as the plants are fairly up, thin placed up along against this pole, three or four be of use. The heat should not exceed seventythem, leaving four in an inch; and stir the ground rows of sheaves of tall Corn-Stalks. This shel-five degrees in the day time, and sixty at night. about, at the same time with your finger. This tered the bed from the North West winds, and If it come down to fifty at night it is better. If will leave in the frame from twenty five to thirty prevented it from freezing on that quarter. Some you cannot keep it down to sixty without giving thousand plants. If you want less, sow in wider sheaves might, besides, if necessary, be laid a little air at night, give it, by putting something rows and thinner in the row. But, above all against the bed itself. But, observe, you must under a light, or two lights, to let in a little of things, give air enough. Do not attempt to make be able to get at the Lights constantly to give the cold. For, always bear in mind, that, when the plants grow fast. You are sure to destroy air, and to see how things go on; and, therefore, plants, of whatever kind, be drawn up, they them, if you make this attempt. Have patience. it is better to have your shelter at some feet are nearly spoiled. 92. When the Sun comes upon the glass, it strong and green; and, to do this, you must give 87. We now return to the bed and the soon augments the heat; and the air must be them plenty of air. Remember, that, out of a plants. I suppose the seed to have been sown given immediately if possible, so as to keep down thousand failures in hot-bed culture, nine hun-on the tenth of March (Long Island, mind,) and the heat. Changes are very sudden in March, dred and ninety-nine arise from the giving of too that you have been very attentive to give air and April and May; and, therefore, somebody should water. By the 10th of April, the plants will always be at hand to attend to the hot-bed. But, The plants will be ready soon enough. Get them distance from the bed. little air. 84. Before I proceed to the time of taking have eight leaves, and they will form one solid if the master be from home, there is, surely, the plants out of the bed, I must make a remark patch of green. They will be a little drawn up, some man; or, at any rate, a wife, a son, or a or two respecting shelter for hot-beds; and this though you have given them plenty of air. And daughter. The labour is nothing, the trouble leads me back to the Plan of the Garden. In now they must be removed into a new bed. Dig very little indeed, and all that is wanted is a that plan (page 307) is the Hot-bed Ground, No. out the ground a foot deep, four feet wide, and small portion of care. 1, which is 70 feet by 36. The fence to the to as great a length as is required by your num- 93. It may happen that the bed will get too North and West is the hedge, and that to the ber of plants. Fill this hollow up with the best cool. It may loose its heat sooner than you could South and East ought to be made of Broom dung you have, cover it over with four inches of wish, especially if you use it for Cucumber and Corn Stalks, in this manner: Put some Locust-good earth; and plant your plants upon it in Melon-plants after you have used it for things Posts along at eight or ten feet apart. Let rows four inches a-part, and two inches a-part in that you want earlier; and, I shall show, that these posts be ten feet high and squared to the row. When you have put out the plants, this may be very useful in certain cases. Now. three inches by three inches. Lay a bed of water them lightly; and shade them for two or if the heat be too much diminished, you may bricks, or smooth stones, along the ground from three days from the sun. They must also be easily restore it, thus: make a little narrow hotpost to post, and let this bed be about seven or sheltered every night, in this manner. Take bed, a foot and a half wide, all round the bed. eight inches wide. This bed is for the bottoms some rods, put one end of each rod into the Put the dung together as before; place it close of the Broom-Corn Stalks to stand on. Go on ground on one side of the bed, and the other end to the bed; beat it well; and build it up, all round, one side of the row of posts, and nail three on the other side; put these rods at about two as high as the top of the Frame. This is called rows of strips, or laths (best of Locust,) to the feet asunder all along the bed; then tie some lining; and it will give the bed nearly as much posts. The first row at a foot and a half from rods long ways to these arched rods; so that, heat as it had at first. If you do not want so the ground; the second row at six feet from the when you have done, your bed has an arch over much heat, line only the back of the bed; or the ground; and the third row within six inches of it formed by these rods. Every evening about back and the two ends. In short, take as much the top of the posts. Then do the same on the sun-set, cover this arch with mats, with old car-heat as you may want. other side of the posts. Thus you will have a pets, or with a slight covering of any sort, which 94. Before I dismiss the subject of hot beds, space of three inches wide, all the way along, take off again at sun-rise in the morning. I must notice, that there are other contrivances between these opposite rows of strips. Then take 88. To put out all your plants in this way will than frames resorted to in this kind of garden fine, long, straight Broom Corn Stalks, and fill up require a very long bed, or many short ones. If, work. A frame is, as we here see, a wooden this space with them full and tight, putting them, therefore, your number of plants be very large, construction, for lights of glass to be placed on. of course, bottoms downwards, and placing these the best way will be to put out a part of them in For smaller concerns there are very convenient bottoms upon the bricks. When the whole is this way, leave the remainder in the hot bed a things, called hand-lights or hand-glasses. A nicely filled, strain a line from top of post to top week longer (taking off the lights in the day hand-glass is a square glass-house in miniature. of post, and according to that line, cut off the time,) and then to plant all the remainder out in its sides are about eight inches high from the tops of the Broom-Corn Stalks ;, and, while the beds of fine rich earth, in the natural ground, ground to the eves. The roof rises from each fence will look very handsome, it will be a shelter and without any covering. side in a triangular form, so that it comes to a much more effectual than pales or a wall; and, 89. Now, here we drop, for the present, the point at the top, as a pyramid does, the base of in my opinion will last as long as the former, subject of Cabbage Plants; because I am to which is a square. At this point is a stout ring, unless the former be made wholly of Locust speak of their culture, under the word, Cabbage, to lift the hand-glass about by. The panes of Stalks, rushes, reeds, straw, twigs, bows, any in that part of the work, which will treat of the glass are fixed in lead; and the rim round the thing of this kind, formed into a fence, or put up cultivation of vegetables. I am, in this part of bottom is made of iron or of wood. Any glaas shelter, is preferable to any thing smooth and my work, to confine myself to the making and zier can make these hand-lights, and they are solid. Grass will shoot earlier under a bush, managing of Hot-beds; and, I have selected the by no means expensive. Here, where the tax 66 upon glass is so slight, they cannot be more The estimated temperature of the Earth is very pointedly, the opinion, that the more putreexpensive than in England; and there they do about 48 degrees of Fahrenheit's Thermometer, faction and evaporation can be retained in the not cost much more than a dollar each. They but as the three kinds of Earth, Silicious, Calca- soil, the greater will be the advantage gained by may be made of almost any size. About 18 reous, and Aluminous, which are considered ne- the application of vegetable matter. inches square at the base is a very good size. In cessary to the formation of perfect soil, differ Just the reverse of this opinion, we find from the gardens near London there are acres of materially in their powers of conducting the the pen of Judge Peters, as expressed in the seground covered with such glasses. It is the principle of heat, (or Caloric,) we may rational-cond volume of the Memoirs of the Philadelphia custom there to plant out cauliflowers in the fall, ly infer, that wherever the composition of the Agricultural Society, and the opinion of the apand to cover them, in severe weather, during soils is considerably altered in relation to the plication of green vegetable matter and quick winter, with hand-glasses. A hand-glass may, three kinds of Earths, that the temperature is fermentation strongly inculcated, as the best mode in April, be put over a hot-bed made with a likewise materially affected. The first of these for the melioration of the soil. wheel-barrow full of dung. It would bring on earths is a rapid conductor of heat, the second is In the Elements of Agricultural Chemistry, by cabbage plants enough for two or three gardens. moderately so, and the third a very bad conduc- Sir Iumphrey Davy, we find the following obserIt is handy to sow things under in the natural tor; and their affinities for moisture seem in-vations. p. 249. "When green crops are to be ground, in the spring, especially flowers that are versely with their powers of conducting heat." employed for enriching a soil they should be to be transplanted; for, on the natural ground, it From this circumstance we may conclude that" ploughed in, if it be possible, when in flower or adds to the heat in the day, and keeps off cold neither of the three can be left out of a soil with-" at the time the flower is beginning to appear, and slight frost in the night. Air is given, by out injuring its aptitude to the retention of a due" for it is, at this period, that they contain the putting a brick, or bit of wood, under one of the degree of heat and moisture. largest quantity of soluble matter, and that their sides of the hand-glass. Thus we find that wherever sand very much" leaves are most active in forming nutritive 95. Now, look back at the Plan of the garden. predominates in a soil, its temperature becomes" matter." No. 1, is the Hot bed Ground. It is seventy feet so high and its affinity for moisture so small, that Again in Sir John Sinclair's code of Agricullong and thirty-six wide. It is wide enough to it dissipates all other matters necessary for the ture, Appendix, page 374. "When manure is contain four rows of hot-beds, with room for growth of plants. Wherever calcareous earth deficient, the ploughing in a green crop of peas, linings. But, though a tenth part of this should predominates to excess, in a finely divided state, of Buck-Wheat, &c. has often been resorted to: not be wanted, the place is a warm place, and is (from its power of being dissolved by water, and but this practice is not found to answer. better for tender things than a colder place. The its antisceptic powers,*) it becomes so hard as to Wheat was ploughed in for several years in Linentrance to it from the Western door of the resist the roots of vegetables, consequently this colnshire as a manure but ultimately given up, as garden is convenient for the carrying in of dung, is the most useless of all soils. Again: a soil in doing no good." and for carrying it out again for the use of the which clay predominates to excess becomes so This sentence is immediately followed by a garden. cold and moist that vegetable matter ploughed note by the American Editor. "Very different 96. Here would be room for a great deal more into it remains so long without fermenting, as to is the result of practice in this country. The beds, certainly, than can ever be wanted even in be nearly useless to the succeeding crop. To this" superior condition of much of the old tillage a gentleman's garden. But, observe, the room is it may be said, that a soil composed properly of land of Pennsylvania may be fairly attributed no evil. Whatever is not used for hot-beds may sand and clay, would remove the above objections." to turning in green Crops of Clover and Buckbe applied to other purposes. This is a sheltered True: but these two earths have no chemical ac-"Wheat." spot; and, it will, by and by be seen, that, even tion on any thing which comes in contact with In the foregoing extracts we find evidence on if not used for hot-beds at all; such a spot must them. The different acids formed in the process both sides of this important question which leaves be of great utility. (To be Continued.) DEAR SIR, AGRICULTURE. December 8th, 1822. I am directed by the Delegation of the united Agricultural Societies of Va. to request that the six pieces now sent you, may be published in the American Farmer. To JOHN S. SKINNER. Respectfully yours' &c. HELD IN THE TOWN into Land. Buck of fermentation are left free in the soil and act the farmer, who reads for his improvement, at a manifestly to the disadvantage of all vegetables loss to which side to give credence; nor can his fit for the consumption of man or animals. Water own experience settle the question, until he has is likewise a very bad conductor of heat, so much fairly experimented on every variety of soil that so, that a soil retaining an undue quantity, be-comes under his management, without having recomes cold and sterile. ference to the principles heretofore laid down. Dry or Green Vegetable Matter Ploughed Vegetable matter (other circumstances being favourable) will commence fermentation at the But few subjects deserve more extensively the temperature of 55 degrees of Fahrenheit's Therattention of Farmers than this, particularly in mometer, and the disposition to fermentation inthis part of the country, where we are compel-creases with increased temperature until the led to depend principally on the spontaneous pro- temperature arises to 90 degrees. Sixty-seven duction of the soil for the nourishment of the fu- and a half is the middle of these two extremes; ture crops; and there is no subject treated of, which we will take as the standard degree at in the books on Agriculture, which I have had an which fermentation would go on to the greatest opportunity of reading, on which there is a great-advantage in the soil. er contrariety of opinion. From the pen of Col. Should this and the foregoing propositions be John Taylor, who may be justly considered the true, we may conclude, that whenever the temA Communication from Dr. WILLIAM J. COCKE, father of Agriculture in this state, we find the perature of the soil rises above the standard (or read before the Agricultural Society of Sussex, following remarks. Arator, pages 88 a d 89. No.18. 67 degrees) it will be necessary to plough the on the 14th of May, 1822. "Wood and all the vegetables of softer tex-vegetable matter into the land in that state, (dry,) Wishing to elicit from others information on" ture, are exposed to the effects of putrefaction best calculated to resist fermentation, and whenthe following subjects, I am induced to offer for" and evaporation, in a degree so far below the ever it falls below the standard temperature, it the consideration of the Society the following" water, that a complete dressing of atmospheric- will be best to plough it in, in that state (green) crude observations on, THE PROPER TEMPERA-" al manure conveyed in the vegetable vehicle, which is best calculated to promote fermentation. TURE OF SOILS: THE COMPARATIVE ADVANTA-" will discover its benefit for years, whilst one This brings us to the conclusion, that all the GES OF GREEN OR DRY VEGETABLE MATTER" conveyed in rain will disappear in a few weeks. opinions heretofore quoted are correct as far as PLOUGHED INTO LAND, AND THE APPLICATION" It follows that the nearer the vegetable vehicle they were governed by the particular soils and of all other VEGETABLE AND ANIMAL MA-" of manure from the atmosphere, approaches circumstances under which they were formed "to wood, the longer it will last, and that the but incorrect in a general point of view, as a Proper Temperature of Soils. "nearer it approaches to water the shorter it standard from which a farmer should draw his As far as my limited researches into the Sci-" will last. If this principle is sound, a point of opinions for the management of his farm. ence of Agriculture have extended, I have not" great importance to the enclosing system is In the Spring of 1819, I subjected these opibeen able to find a single instance in which, the settled: whether it is better to plough in vege- nions to the test of one experiment-on two pieproper temperature of Soils has been the parti-" tables in a succulent or dry state? Every ex-ces of land about equally fertile, but one a warm cular subject of any essay-nor has the subject"periment I have ever made, decides in favour light soil, and the other a close cold adhesive excited that degree of attention which in my of the latter; and these decisions correspond soil: on each of these a quantity of dry vegetshumble opinion it eminently deserves. It is uni "with the requisition of our theory." bles was put, under circumstances as nearly versally agreed, that a portion of heat is essential The foregoing extract from Arator, conveys, equal as I could make them, and they were both to the melioration of all soils, and the growth of tended in corn in the same way. The corn on every vegetable; but what that degree is, has not yet been ascertained. continued to improve throughout the year, whilst NURES. * This flower seems to be reversed when the the light land was immediately benefitted and {quantity does not exceed 15 or 20 per cent. |