HOT-BEDS. 311 



which should be inserted in grooves, rather than by the 

 old method of puttying, as putty soon crumbles with 

 such severe exposure. 



Now this work may be done by us, if we have but 

 a slight mechanical turn, or we may employ our carpen- 

 ter, who will construct the frame in a few hours. The 

 sashes can be bought at a low price, as they are always 

 kept for sale at any window factory. The whole struc- 

 ture, including sash bars, should have two good coats of 

 coarse paint, which will be most serviceable in protecting 

 it from the weather ; and if we can contrive to char any 

 portions which touch the ground, it will conduce much 

 to durability by preventing decay. 



As we design manuring the garden, we buy stable 

 manure in March, wherewithal to do it. No matter if 

 it be coarse and cheap, we can improve the quality be- 

 fore autumn many fold, and be richly rewarded in the 

 process. We begin by throwing it in a heap, so as to 

 present as little surface as possible to the atmosphere, 

 and let it ferment, or, as gardeners say, *' heat." 



Our frame is made. 



We will now suppose the manure is ready to move, 

 and the time almost the first of April, long before it 



