20 FRENCH MARKET-GARDENING 



MAKING THE HOT-BEDS 



From October till the end of March hot-beds are in 

 constant use for the production of early crops. As 

 some of these require more heat than others it is 

 necessary to regulate the thickness and heat of the 

 beds according to the season and the crop grown. If 

 the temperature is too high there is great danger of 

 the plants becoming too tender and " sappy " in 

 growth ; they are, therefore, likely to suffer consider- 

 ably when exposed during the cold winter months. 

 On the other hand, just the right temperature must be 

 maintained to secure the maximum amount of growth 

 in the shortest time, coupled with careful ventilation 

 on all favourable occasions. 



French growers usually make three different kinds 

 of beds according to season and crop namely, (i) 

 raised hot-beds ; (2) sunken beds in trenches for 

 melons ; and (3) in April beds made from spent 

 manure or the dark mould that has already played its 

 part in the production of previous crops. 



Having marked out by means of pegs and lines 

 where the beds and frames and cloches are to be 

 placed bearing in mind that they are to be inclined 

 towards the south, south-east, or south-west the 

 manure is wheeled on to the ground or carried on the 

 back in the peculiar wicker baskets called " hottes " 

 (see figs. 13, 14, p. 44). 



It is the custom to make the beds deeper on a wet, 

 heavy soil than on a warm, light, sandy one, and also 

 to make narrow beds deeper than wide ones. Beds 

 made during the winter months are also thicker in 

 proportion than those made in autumn or spring, as 



