ON COMMON DUNG BEDS. 23 



would recommend its being done, in order to 

 secure the advantages pointed out as arising 

 from sinking the bed. 



If my suggestion as to the size of the frame 

 be adopted, the excavation for the bed must be 

 fifteen feet six inches long by eight feet wide ; 

 and in order to make it complete, a nine-inch 

 wall should be built all round to keep up the 

 soil, which will also assist greatly in regulating 

 the heat of the bed by keeping the manure from 

 coming in contact with the cold earth. The ex- 

 cavation is made large, because the bed should 

 be three inches wider than the frame ; and there 

 should be an additional space of eighteen inches 

 between the bed and the wall for linings, 

 which will be required of considerable thickness 

 for a frame of four feet. Do not let the walls 

 inclosing the excavated space be higher than the 

 surface of the surrounding ground, in order that 

 the linings may be more conveniently turned. 



Commence the erection of the bed by laying 

 on the ground, nine inches or a foot thick, brush- 



