HOTBEL>, HOW TO MAKE. 257 HOTBED, HOW TO MAKE. 



yard or farmyard, or leaves or bark from 

 the tanyard in a state of fermentation ; thus 

 we arrive at a different means of imparting 

 heat, which may be regarded as a natural 

 means, and differing in this marked respect 

 from the application of bottom heat by the 

 agency of combustion, which, after all, is a 

 purely artificial system. 



Hotbed, How to make. 



There is no fixed rule as to the 

 best time for making hotbeds: they 

 may be made, indeed, at any time of 

 year, and for any purpose for which they 

 may be required. For example, if it is 

 desired to have cucumbers at Christmas, 

 tke bed must be made early in October ; if 

 in January, early in November ; and so on 

 in proportion, little less than three months 

 being required from the time of planting to 

 the time of ripening fruit at this time of the 

 year. It is immaterial what time of the 

 year is chosen to commence cucumber 

 growing, the only difference being that in 

 the spring and summer months the task is 

 comparatively easy, requiring less labour 

 and less material than in the winter. In 

 the colder months the weather has to be 

 battled with ; in the warmer months the 

 weather in a great measure assists. Sup- 

 posing it is desired to commence in 

 October, let a quantity of stable dung be 

 got together, proportioned to the size of 

 the frame : two double loads for a three- 

 light frame are usually allowed for the 

 body of the beds ; but it is as well to add 

 an additional load, in which to start the 

 plants. Having shaken it all together, laid 

 it out for a week, and then turned it over 

 again, take rather less than one load and 

 make a bed for a one-light frame. This 

 may be put together roughly, as it is 

 merely to raise the plants in, and may be 

 pulled to pieces when that is accomplished. 



The remainder of the dung should be 

 turned over four or five times during a 



I fortnight, and wetted, if dry. This pre- 

 paration is most important ; the inex- 



' perienced operator, unless he would run 

 the risk of destroying his plants at the 

 beginning, should follow it to the letter ; 

 for, unless the material has been well 

 worked before the bed is made, it is apt to 

 heat too violently, and burn the roots of 

 the plants. In order to avoid this, it is ad- 

 visable to use an equal quantity of leaves 

 mixed with stable dung for the bed ; the 

 leaves give a sweeter and more moderate, 

 as well as more lasting heat. When the 

 material is ready, measure the frame, 

 length and breadth, and mark out the 

 bed, allowing I foot or 18 inches more 

 each way for the bed than the length and 

 breadth of the frame. At each corner of 

 the bed drive a stake firmly into the 

 ground, and perfectly upright, to serve as 

 a guide to build the bed by. Then pro- 

 ceed to build up the bed, shaking up the 

 dung well, and beating it down with a 

 fork. The whole should be equally firm 

 and compact, so that it is not likely to 

 settle more in one part than in another, 

 the surface being quite level. The frame 

 and lights may now be placed in the centre, 

 but the lights left off, so that the rank 

 steam which always rises from a newly 

 made hotbed may escape. 



Putting on Soil. When the bed is 

 made, the frame and lights put on, and 



j the rank steam passed off, which generally 

 takes five or six days, let a barrowful of 

 good loamy soil be placed under each 

 light ; by the next day this will be warmed 

 to the temperature of the hotbed, and the 

 plants may be planted in it ; no matter 

 how small the plants are, it is better than 

 raising them in the bed ia which they are 

 to grow, the shift itself being beneficial, 

 and the time saved being rather more than 

 a fortnight. > ,'V;^ 



Making Seedbed. When the dung has 

 lain the first week, the.seedbed is made. In 



