THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 73 
over it again. If the manure was very fresh when first taken in 
hand, it will require turning over a second time, otherwise once will 
suffice ; and in a week or so after it was thrown together in a heap, 
the bed should be made. Mark out with a few pegs the space it is 
intended to occupy; make sure of having the sides and ends per- 
fectly straight, and care must be taken to have the materials packed 
firm round the outside. The bed must not be trodden, but it ought 
to be well beaten with the fork, for it will then heat more steadily 
and be altogether better. The frame may be placed upon the bed 
immediately it is made, and for the first few days the lights must be 
tilted a little night and day to allow the unpleasant odour arising 
from the manure to escape. In three or four days after the bed 
has been made up, preparations may be commenced for putting it 
into working order. In the first place, lay strips of turf, cut rather 
thin, over the surface, and upon this form a layer, four inches in 
thickness, of sifted coal-ashes. The turf is to prevent the heat rising 
too freely, and the ashes for forming a bed in which to plunge the 
pots. If after a day or two the heat of the bed does not exceed 85°, 
the sowing of seeds and the insertion of cuttings may be com- 
menced. An experienced hand will be able to determine the heat 
by means of a sti¢k thrust into the bed, but the amateur should 
partly bury a thermometer in the ashes, and uncover it occasionally 
to ascertain the heat, for if the bed becomes too hot—as for 
example, above 85°—there will be a risk of the cuttings or tender 
seedlings being injured by an excess of heat. Instead, however, of 
waiting until the heat has declined materially, it will be better to 
commence the work of propagation, and to stand the pots upon the 
surface of the bed, for they will not be so fully exposed to the 
effects of the heat as would be the case were they plunged. It may 
also be well to mention here that should the heat increase, as it will 
do sometimes, after the pots are plunged, they must be lifted out of 
the bed as quickly as possible, and be re-plunged when it can be 
done with safety. 
The lights must be covered at night with mats, and they should 
be placed so that very little of the ends hang over the sides of the 
frame, for the steam will rise freely from the manure on the outside, 
and the mats, when they hang over to any considerable extent, often 
“draw” the steam into the frame, with the result that a portion of 
the occupants are injured. This precaution is especially necessary 
when linings of manure are applied to the bed, after it has been 
made up some time, for the purpose of maintaining the heat, for the 
steam from fresh manure is very injurious to tender vegetation when 
in a confined space. It is also of importance to leave a little air, 
at night as well as during the day, to allow the excess of steam to 
escape, and for this purpose a piece of wood about half an inch in 
thickness, placed under the end of the light at the back of the 
frame, will suffice for the purpose. During the day very little 
ventilation will suffice, for if the sun shines brightly, the glass must 
be covered with canvas or mats, for newly-inserted cuttings will not 
bear the exposure to the sunshine nor the free circulation of air that 
would be necessary for keeping the temperature within proper 
March, 
