March.~] OF FRAMING. 25 



injured foliage of any of the evergreens that have suffered 

 by the severity of the winter, but leave every green part 

 which is essential to the support of these kind of plants. It 

 is expected that all pruning of the shrubbery is finished ; 

 if not, get all expeditiously done according to directions 

 given in the preceding months. All work that can be 

 clone in this month, should not be delayed, such as hoeing, 

 digging, raking and clearing away all leaves and litter of 

 every description that have been brought or blown into the 

 garden during autumn or winter. 



OF FRAMING. 



Where it is desired to have the more showy annuals 

 early in bloom, it is necessary to prepare a hot-bed frame, 

 for the purpose of bringing them forward. It is time, 

 about the first of the month, to collect and prepare ma- 

 nure for the desired hot-bed ; and, as that operation, in 

 many instances, is very imperfectly performed, a few ob- 

 servations on the subject may be useful. 



Take three parts of fresh hot stable manure, with one 

 part of fresh oak leaves. Have a sufficient quantity to make 

 the intended bed or beds from three to four feet high. 

 Shake and mix up both together in a compact conical heap 

 in order to encourage fermentation. If the weather is cold 

 and windy, cover it with straw or leaves and boards, which 

 is necessary to produce the desired effect. If fermentation 

 soon takes place, it will need to be thoroughly turned over 

 in eight or ten days. If any of it has become dry and musty 

 from excessive heat, as you proceed, water the affected 

 parts, pile all up neatly, and leave it protected in part as 

 before. In five or six days more, it will fiave to be turned 

 again, repeating it un.til the first extreme heat has been 

 over. In neglect of this, the heat, after making up the bed, 

 will be vehement for a week or two, frequently destroying 

 the vegetative purity of the soil, and proving destructive 

 to the seeds. 



Allowing the manure to come to a lively heat, having 



no unpleasant, rancid smell, proceed to mark off your in- 



tejided bed, running it east and west as nearly as possible, 



measure your frame, and allow the site of the bed eight 



3 



