266 HOT-BEDS. 



and back to keep tiie sasL. in place, projecting upwards about the 

 thickness of the sash. Such a frame will hold three sashes. 



The most convenient size of sash is six feet by three, the sash 

 bars being all six feet long without any cross bars, and the glass 

 laid with^a lap of an eighth of an Lach, the lowest light lapping 

 about a quarter of an inch on the frame of the sash, and the 

 upper light inserted, at the top, in a groove in the upper sash 

 frame. In order that this may be done, it wiU be seen that it is 

 necessary that the rabbet of the sash-bar or astragal shall be made 

 to lie flush with the upper surface of the lower sash frame. Glazed 

 in this manner, the rain falling on the sash runs off with nothing 

 to hinder its descent. The sash-bars should be made stronger 

 than those of ordinary window sash, and ih. the form shown for 

 green-house astragals at page 142. 



These having been provided, it is necessary then to procure 

 the material for producing the heat. This should be a quantity of 

 fresh horse-dung, to which may be added, if convenient, leaves equal 

 in bulk to one-half of the manure, or instead of leaves, the straw 

 used in bedding. These should be well mixed and thrown com- 

 pactly together into a heap to ferment. After the fermentation 

 has become lively, the heap should be turned over, shaken out 

 and re-formed, and left for three or four days until fermentation 

 sets in again. 



If the ground be of that porous character that water will not 

 settle into a pit two feet deep, such a pit may be dug out, of the 

 width and length requisite to receive the frames, and the manure 

 now placed in the pit. But if the ground be of such a character 

 that water would settle into pits dug in it, the bed must be 

 formed whoUy on the surface. In placing the manure now, it 

 should be put into the pit or built up in the form of the frames 

 gradually, packing it as solid as possible, and beating it well 

 down with the back of the fork, so that it may be alike firm and 

 solid in all parts. "When this is completed, the surface should 

 be level, and the manure about two and a half feet deep through- 

 out the entire bed. K built on the surface of the ground it 



