THE FLOEAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 55 



it even in this respect. "We shall therefore show how the best use 

 can be made of it, and how something more than " a few braces of 

 cucumbers " can be turned out of this comparatively " small extent 

 of glass." 



Towards the middle of February procure of stable manure a 

 sufficient quantity to form a bed requisite for a three-light frame 

 such as we described in the January number : enough for this 

 purpose will be from two to three good one-horse cartloads. That 

 which is best for the purpose is such as has been rather more than a 

 week from the stable ; and if it can be procured from a place 

 where the horses have been highly fed, it will be found much better 

 for the purpose, being far more retentive of heat than that which is 

 taken from horses that are poorly fed. "When the dung has been 

 obtained, it should be conveyed to the place where the bed is to be 

 erected ; and here we would remark that is of the greatest importance 

 that this should be in some sheltered situation, with a good exposure 

 to tbe south, and so protected on all sides, as to be secure from the 

 influence of high winds. 



The first operation is to have the dung purified, or, as gardeners 

 generally term it, " sweetened.'' The object of this is to dispossess 

 it of those rank and strong gases with which in its green state it is 

 charged, and which would be so injurious to vegetable life. It is 

 therefore necessary that it should be thoroughly and effectually 

 fermented before it can be applied to the use of a hotbed. The way 

 in which this is done is, to throw it all up together in a conical heap, 

 and allow it to remain in this position for about a week, at the 

 expiration of which it will steam considerably, and a rather strong 

 heat will be generated ; care, however, must be had that the heat at 

 this stage of the work is not so great as to burn the material, which 

 is readily discovered by observing if the interior becomes whitened 

 and dry. When it has lain in this state for about a week, the whole 

 mass must be forked over, and made up into a cone similar to that in 

 which it was originally formed ; but proper attention must be paid 

 during this movement of the mass, to see that that part of it which 

 formed the exterior shall on this occasion form the interior, and vice 

 versa, and also that all lumps be well separated, and the whole 

 thrown loosely up together ; this is what is called the first turning. 

 In this state it should remain for another week, during which period 

 also the heat will have become more regular and steady, and the 

 dung will have lost a considerable portion of its noxious gases. It 

 will be necessary to give it a second . turning similar to the first, 

 taking care on this occasion likewise that the exterior be thrown 

 inside, and the middle brought to the outside. During these turnings, 

 it should be well watered to prevent burning, and also for the 

 purpose of assisting in purifying the mass. This should be attended 

 to every time it is turned over : and if so, it will tend very materially 

 to prolong the duration of heat in the bed. Many persons consider 

 two turnings sufficient ; but we would advise a third or even a 

 fourth, as the more the materials are properly fermented, the moro 

 satisfactory will the results be ; and in all cases it should be turned 

 and watered until the straw assumes a dark brown colour. 



February. 



