WAYS AND MEANS 297 



must again be applied through a rose-can. If the heat is still too 

 strong, the same process, after two or three days' interval, must 

 be repeated, and then, after another brief period of waiting, the 

 construction of the hotbed proper may be proceeded with. 



The bed should be shaped as depicted in Figure 2 of the diagram, 

 and it should have an area on the surface large enough to allow a 

 margin of a foot or eighteen inches on each side of the frame. In 

 building up the bed the great object to be attained is that of 

 solidity and uniformity. Mark out a plot as shown in Figure 1, 

 and if there be no danger of standing water excavate to a depth 

 of a foot. Fill hi the material so that the heap is at least four 

 feet above the ground-level, and tread each layer down firmly. 

 It is a good plan to work from the edges towards the centre, so 

 that the innermost forkful is always the last. 



Push a stake about three feet into the centre of the bed ; with- 

 draw occasionally to test the heat, and when the stake can be 

 comfortably grasped the hotbed is ready for the operations that 

 follow. 



When the bed has been properly shaped spread four inches of 

 garden soil over the manure inside the frame. This keeps down 

 the rank steam which would rise through the hotbed if it were 

 allowed to remain uncovered. The light should now be put on 

 the frame and closed down. A thermometer may then be hung 

 on a nail fixed inside the frame, and the heat tested. If it is too 

 strong that is to say, higher than 75 the bed should again 

 be damped down with water, and the light be raised an inch or 

 so from the top end of the frame. This will help to disperse the 

 vapour, the colour of which should be observed as it settles in 

 small globules on the inside of the glass. At first they will be 

 the colour of beer, but as the heat declines they will become clear. 

 This is a sign that all is now well, and that it is safe to put in the 

 seeds or cuttings. 



Perhaps the most important operation associated with the 

 propagation of cuttings is the preparation of ths soil. Let us see 

 what is the object to be aimed at in this direction. It is the pro- 

 duction of a compost which shall be fresh and sweet, and at the 



