Hozv (o Build a Hotbed. 63 



sitic attacks, botb animal and vesretable, to 2:ood ad- 

 vantage. Further suggestions on this topic scarcely 

 belong to this chapter, but will be given later in the 

 work. 



Construction of Hot-beds. 



For a location, a spot facing the south, with a slope 

 in that direction, is the most desirable. After the loca- 

 tion has been selected, a fence should be erected six 

 feet high, and of the length which the bed is to be, to 

 serve as a protection from the wind, and as a support 

 for mats and shutters. For convenience, the fence or 

 wind-break should slant back a little from the bottom, 

 — about one foot : it will then form a better support 

 for mats and shutters when leaned against it, and will 

 be much more convenient in working around the beds. 



The first plank should be set about three and a half 

 feet from the base of the fence, and should be two 

 inches thick by twelve inches. The front plank should 

 be two inches narrower. Place the back plank two and 

 a half inches above the ground, and hold in place by 

 driving stakes at the end and middle. Continue the 

 planking in this manner until the desired length is 

 reached. The stakes should,, of course, be nailed to 

 the planks. Place the front plank six feet from the 

 first, and sink into the ground so that the upper edge 

 will be five inches lower than the top of the first, which 

 makes a slant of five inches to carry off the v^-ater. 

 Continue this the same length as the first, and you will 

 then have a bed six feet wide and of the desired 

 length. Shovel out the loam sufficient to bank the 



