MAKING THE HOT-BEDS 21 



greater heat is required to resist the atmospheric 

 cold. 



The most reliable manure for maintaining a good 

 and steady heat is undoubtedly stable manure well 

 moistened with urine. In a fresh state it is rarely 

 used, as the heat generated is much too great, being 

 often as much as 140 to 160 Fahr. Fresh manure is 

 brought into proper condition by turning it over two 

 or three times with a fork. It is then ready for use 

 either by itself when great heat is needed, or mixed 

 with older and less active manure when a lower 

 temperature is required. 



French gardeners make their hot-beds about 5 ft. 

 5 in. in width. This allows 4 ft. 5 in. for the 

 frames, or three rows of cloches on top when arranged 

 as shown in fig. 2. A pathway about i ft. wide is 

 thus left between each bed, but it is really only about 

 9 or 10 in., as the manure must project a little beyond 

 the frames. The length of the beds is regulated by 

 the number of frames used ; but five frames (carrying 

 fifteen lights) are generally placed one after the other 

 before an intersecting pathway is made. 



When actually making up the hot-beds the well- 

 mixed manure should be placed in layers over the 

 required space, taking care to keep the edges vertical. 

 When sufficient manure has been placed in position, 

 it should be trodden down well with the feet, and 

 beaten with the fork to secure a level surface and equal 

 density throughout. Any hollow places must be filled 

 up with more manure, until the proper level has been 

 reached. When complete, the whole bed should be 

 watered all over if inclined to be dry, so that it is 

 made moist enough to generate a steady heat. 



