THE HANDLING OF THE PLANTS 



171 



It is advisable to place the manure in the pit in layers, each 

 stratum to be thoroughly trodden down before another one is 

 put in. These layers should be four to eight inches in thickness. 

 By this means the mass is easily made uniform in consistency. 

 Manure that has too much straw for the best results, and which 

 will therefore soon part with its heat, will spring up quickly 

 when the pressure of the feet is removed. Manure that has 



205 Section of a hotbed built with a pit 



too little straw, and which therefore will not heat well or will 

 spend its heat quickly, will pack down into a soggy mass under- 

 neath the feet. When the manure has sufficient litter, it will 

 give a springy feeling to the feet as a person walks over it, but 

 will not fluff up when the pressure is removed. The quantity 

 of manure to be used will depend on its quality, and also on the 

 season in which the hotbed is made. The earlier the bed is 

 made, the larger should be the quantity of manure. Hotbeds 

 that are intended to hold for two months should have about two 

 feet of manure, as a rule. 



The manure will ordinarily heat very vigorously for a few 

 days after it is placed in the bed. A soil thermometer should be 



