182 OF HOT BEES, SECT. XI 11, 



face, for the sake of being able to add the stronger 

 linings, &c. 



The bed should not be of greater dimensions than 

 necessary to hold the frame up firmly, i. e. three or 

 four inches wider every way, though some approve 

 of making it six, which may be proper if the frame 

 is small, as otherwise the body of dung might not 

 hold heat .enough for the necessary length of time. 

 Asa guide for laying the dung regular, (according 

 to the size of the frame) drive stakes, of about the 

 height the bed is to be, at the four corners. 



It is the practice of some gardeners, when they 

 mould the bed, to take the frame off, and lay it two 

 or three inches thick all over, and then put the frame 

 on again. This is done to guard against steaming, 

 and is proper when the frames are shallow ; in this 

 ,case, the bed must be six inches wider every way 

 jthan the frame, in order to hold up the mould for the 

 frame to rest upon. 



In case of an Insufficient quantity of good horse 

 clung, that of cows, oxen, or pigs, if it is strawy, 

 and not too wet, may be mixed with it, in the pro- 

 portion of one-fourth, or upon a pinch more; espe- 

 cially in an advanced part of the season, or to cul- 

 tivate things that are only forcing, and do not na- 

 turally require heat In the case of a deficient quan- 

 tity oi proper materials also, some dry old worn-out 

 hofSe dung may be laid at bottom, and a little of it 

 on the top Offal hay may be mixed as the bed is 

 made ; or a little of mown grass, or weeds, espe- 

 cially for iate made beds ; but clear straw, well 

 >vetted, may be put at the bottom a foot thick, and 

 reckoned about equal to five inches of dung. Cu- 

 cumbers and melons have been raised upon wetted 

 straw beds, mixed with sea coal ashes ; and thus the 

 rank steam of dung avoided, which sometimes injures 



