128 PRACTICAL GARDENING. 



to the heap ; and when we have removed the entire heap, it 

 may lie together until it steams a good deal, and is fresh 

 heated as it were. In turning it back again to its old place, it 

 must be well shaken out and lightened up ; for on the man- 

 ner in which this part of the work is performed depends a 

 good deal of the regularity which we desire to preserve in the 

 heat of the bed hereafter. Sometimes two or three turnings 

 over are enough, at other times the dung is so hot as to 

 require more frequent turning and sjDrinkhng. With this 

 hot dung so prepared, we spread the ground all over evenly 

 between the stakes, keeping the outside square and even, and 

 patting it down with the dung-fork to make it equally sohd 

 as well as equally thick all over. By continuing this until it 

 is even with the tops of the stakes, we may consider the heat 

 nearly provided ; but the next day we shall find our work 

 sunk down a little, and we may then add to the height a 

 little to ensure four feet thickness in front, and we may raise 

 it six inches higher behind, but the centre must be as sohd as 

 the sides ; it must therefore be patted down even, and dung 

 added wherever the surface has sunk. The frame, which 

 should be well cleaned, may then be set on the top, perfectly 

 square with the dung, which will project one foot all round. 

 In a day or two the heat will be perceptible, and we must 

 ascertain the temperature of the centre by plunging a thick 

 smooth stake into it from the outside, and making it reach to the 

 centre, then withdrawing it, and feeling the heat of the end 

 of the stick, which of course wiR be the same as the centre 

 of the dung. If it be too hot, and the dung is drying and 

 burning, we must undo a part of the work, or it may be so 

 hot as to require it all to be undone. This, however, is 

 seldom the case ; and we believe we may say never, if the 

 dung be properly prepared beforehand. In two or three days 

 the heat will come up, when about three inches of good loam, 

 not too stiff, may be put all over the dung inside the frame. 

 This keeps the air sweet within the frame, and the bed is 

 ready for anything. It will do to raise seeds in pots, and to 

 bring up plants after they are potted until they are too large 

 for the frame. It will do to grow cucumbers or melons, or 

 for anything that heat is required for. Supposing, however, 

 that it be for cucumbers or melons, we recommend the plants 

 to be all got ready in pots before the principal bed is made ; 

 and, as these are but three or four weeks raising, most people 



