THE FLOEAL WOULD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 87 



either with straw litter, mats, or a tarpauling. The second or third 

 day the frame may be put on, the fourth day a bushel or so of soil 

 may be put in a hill under the centre of each light, and the fifth or 

 sixth day the seeds may be sown or the plants put in. If all has 

 been managed as described, everything will go on satisfactorily. But 

 the present object is not to describe the whole process of growing 

 cucumbers or melons, or any sucli plants, but to give a few hints on 

 making hotbeds for different purposes. 



For the propngation of plants and raising seedlings, it is possible 

 to economize the dung or heat by adopting different methods of 

 forming the beds. I have heard and read of various ways of doing 

 this, but the first of those which T am about to describe I have seen 

 nowhere practised but where practised by myself, nor read of except 

 where described by myself, so that I m.ay be excused in presuming it 

 to be original. 



In the first place, make some fagots of brushwood, and build 

 with these a pit on which the frame may rest ; this pit, the w^alls of 

 which are made of the fagots, should be about four feet high, so 

 that with the frame on it is about the height of a man; the fagots 

 are pinned to the ground with stakes, after the frame is put on, so 

 that it may not rest on them ; this allows the frame to sink with the 

 fagots into the pit thus formed. The dung is thrown in after it has 

 been well and thoroughly prepared, as previonsly described, filling it 

 up to the glass, as it sinks considerably, which must be allowed for. 

 When outside linings are applied to a bed of this kind, the heat 

 from them is much more immediate and effective ; it penetrates the 

 brushwood quickly, and increases the heat sooner than if the bed 

 were solid. Another advantage is, the pit remains two or three 

 years ; it is merely necessary, after being used one season, to dig out 

 the old dung, and apply fresh inside and out, so that the first trouble 

 is the greatest. 



The following I have seen but once practised before I adopted it, 

 and have seen it nowhere else, and may presume that it is not 

 generally known. Lay the foundation as for an ordinary bed, but in 

 building it up leave the centre hollow, in the form of the letter V. 

 When built to within six inches of the top, lay some drain-pipes 

 across, then build up the bed about three inches above the pipes, 

 and lay some rough boards across, over the hollow ; on these rest 

 the frame. Over the boards lay tan, ashes, or small short dung, on 

 which the pots are to rest or be plunged in. The pipes (which 

 should be about four or five at the back and the same at the front, 

 placed equidistant from each other) must be plugged up at first, but 

 opened when lining is applied, as they are to conduct the heat from 

 the linings into the heart of the bed. In the propagation of 

 plants, etc., these forms will be found of great service to those who 

 have much to do in that way. I'. C. 



