iv.] FEBRUARY 189 



the light rubbish, primings, hedge-clippings, etc., which 

 may be raked together from the yards and outhouses, 

 and burnt up with a heap of dried weeds and earth. 

 Such a plan is also very conducive to tidiness. When 

 planting, lay the mixture in the open drills, so that the 

 roots may find a congenial soil at their first start. Ground 

 prepared in this way will grow all seeds and tubers to 

 perfection, and afford the least shelter to the worms and 

 slugs which infest neglected ground. 



It is during this month that preparations should be com- 

 pleted for making a hot-bed. The best material is fresh 

 stable manure with a liberal mixture of the autumn leaves. 

 To make sure of a steady, moderate, and lasting heat, the 

 manure and leaves should be mixed, forked over, and 

 thrown into heaps every few days for a week or so before 

 it is wanted, and if very dry, sprinkled now and then 

 from the rose of a watering-pot ; the whole mass will 

 then get into a uniform degree of fermentation. A 

 rectangular bed should then be built, I foot larger each 

 way than the frame to be used, carefully shaking out 

 and spreading each forkful, and repeatedly treading down 

 the manure, so as to make the bed as uniform as possible 

 in solidity, composition, and moisture. For general 

 purposes a bed about 3 feet deep that will settle down 

 to 2 feet will be best. When the bed is finished the 

 frame and sash may be put on, and some fresh manure 

 banked round the outside to the very top. Let the sash 

 be left partly open for a couple of days to allow the 

 rank heat to pass off. Light, dry, friable compost may 



