138 FLOWERS AND THE FLOWER GARDEN. 



temperature of the water be from 5 to 10 higher than 

 the minimum temperature of the house, and give it in 

 such a way that it may reach every fibre of the plant's 

 root. As to time of watering, do not let the plants die, 

 for want is, perhaps, the only rule that can be given ; 

 they may not want it above twice a month, and they 

 may want it much oftener. 



In the chapter on tools I spoke of frames and hand 

 glasses. Hot-beds for using in conjunction with them 

 may be heated by means of hot water, but any heating 

 medium of this kind, requiring periodical attention at 

 all times and in all weather, will be found too trouble- 

 some to those who do not keep a regular gardener ; to 

 them heat arising from fermentation will be much better. 

 The medium may be dung, decaying leaves, or tan in a 

 state of fermentation. As the manure is removed from 

 the stable it should be thrown into the pit or in a heap ; 

 in a week it will have heated, and must be turned over, 

 and the lumps broken and mixed in with the rest. 

 Water the mass until it is all equally moist, and in four 

 days water again. After a few more days turn it over 

 and water it again, and after lying a week more it will 

 fie about fit for use, but another turn over would do 

 good mixing in leaves, refuse straw, and any garden 

 refuse there may be. When the manure is sweet for 

 use a handful from the centre should have a mushroomy 

 smell. The bed may then be made on a spot open to 

 plenty of sunshine, and sheltered from strong drying 

 winds. In small gardens, where a hot-bed much raised 

 would be unsightly, a pit may be dug for the manure, 

 and this has the advantage of not letting the bed get so 

 dry as it does when entirely raised above ground. The 

 dung should be from two to four feet high before it 

 settles, according to the bed wanted and the quantity of 

 manure at command. The bed for raising tender annuals 

 and striking cuttings must be level on the surface, or 

 slightly sloping to the south, and six inches of light rich 

 earth should be evenly spread over the surface, in which 

 the seeds may be sown and the cuttings planted, or the 

 seed and cuttings may be in pots plunged in the bed. 



