52 The Garden. 



ougJily mixed as possible with every part. Where the ground 

 is to be plowed, thej are generally spread upon the surface, 

 and turned in by that process. In special cases, as will be 

 seen further on, manuring in the hill or drill is advisable. 

 Manures are also sometimes applied as top-dressings — that is, 

 are spread upon the surface and not dug in. Vegetable and 

 animal manures for common garden use should be thoroughly 

 rotted and finely pulverized. 



III.-FOECING. 



Every garden should have one or more hot-beds for for- 

 warding early tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbages, radishes, let- 

 tuce, etc. "We have described the hot-bed frame in Chapter 

 IV. The bed itself should be composed of stable manure and 

 leaves, and must be not less than three feet deep. The manure 

 should be first thrown in a heap to ferment, and worked over 

 several times, adding water if it should become dry or musty. 

 Sometimes the bed is made on the surface of the ground, and at 

 o'thers an excavation ten or twelve inches deep is made, in order 

 to give the bed a less inconvenient elevation above the general 

 surface. The manure and leaves should be spread evenly in 

 layers, and pressed down. The bed should be at least six 

 inches larger every way than the frame which is to cover it, 

 and slope slightly toward the south. When neatly finished, 

 put on the frame, close the sash, and keep all tight till the heat 

 rises and steam appears on the glass. So soon as the heat 

 rises, give the bed air at noon, or the warmest part of the day, 

 but keep it carefully closed the rest of the time. In three or 

 four days you may cover the surface with from four to six 

 inches of fine, rich garden mold, and so soon as this is warmed 

 through, the bed is ready for use. The seed may be sowed in 

 drills, but, for facility of transplanting and to secure an un- 

 checked growth, it is better to sow them in small pots, which 

 are to be i)lunged in the mold. Sprinkle gently with water of 

 the same temperature as the bed. When the plants appear 

 they should have the air every day in which the weather will 



