HOTBEDS 



81 



pressure is removed. The amount of manure 

 which is to be used will depend upon its quality, 

 and also upon the season in which the hotbed is 

 made. The earlier the bed is made, the larger 

 should be the quantity of manure. Hotbeds 

 which are supposed to hold for two months should 

 have about two feet of manure, as a rule. 



The manure will ordinarily heat very vigorously 

 for a few days after it is placed in the bed. A 

 soil thermometer should be thrust through the 

 earth down to the manure, and the frame kept 



85. Parallel runs of hotbeds with racks for holding sashes. 



tightly closed. When the temperature is passing 

 below 90, seeds of the warm plants, like tomatoes, 

 may be sown, and when it passes below 80 or 70 

 the seeds of cooler plants may be sown. 



If hotbeds are to be used every year, perma- 

 nent pits should be provided for them. Pits are 

 made from two to three feet deep, preferably the 

 former depth, and are walled up with stone or 

 brick. It is important that they be given good 

 drainage from below. In the summer-time, after 

 the sash are stripped, the old beds may be used 



