SECT. XIII. 



OF HOT BEDS. 183 



plants, if it does not give the fruit a less agreeable 

 taste than they otherwise would have. Sea coal ashes 

 among dung, has been recommended to continue the 

 heat of the bed, and to moderate it, in the propor 

 tion of one-fifth or sixth part; tanners bark has been 

 used in the same way ; and these have been some 

 times mixed generally, and at others in layers three 

 or four to a bed. 



The making of a hot bed is performed thus : lay 

 some of the most strawy dung at bottom, and keep 

 that which appears least worked toward the middle. 

 Let all be well broke, and laid evenly without lumps ; 

 keeping the ends and sides upright, (or rather hang- 

 ing over) not suffering them to draw in, lest the bed 

 be made too little for the frame, or should thus catch 

 wet. Having laid it about half a yard high, most 

 gardeners trample it with the feet set close, and again 

 when raised a foot higher, and lastly when near fi- 

 nished ; but beating it down well with the back of 

 the fork is by some gardeners thought sufficient, ex- 

 cept indeed the dung be fresh and strawy, and then 

 trampling ought to be used. The cleaner dung is, it 

 must not only be more trampled, but more wetted, 

 and the greater quantity of it used. To make beds 

 of unsoiled straw, it is recommended to lay it in a 

 pond for two or three days, and then to throw it in a 

 heap to drain and heat a little first. 



If any dung is to be used directly from the stable, 

 let it be equally mixed with the rest ; but if there is 

 a coldness in the other dung, it will bring the heat 

 forwarder, by laying a good part of the fresh in the 

 middle, which will soon kindle, and spread warmth. 

 The litter that is made use of for this purpose should 

 befoul; and if not, it may be made so, by mixing 

 cow or hog dung with it, or rather by collecting the 

 draining from a farmer's muck hill, and sprinkling 

 with it ; which helps to fermentation. 



