132 THE PRACTICAL GARDEN -BOOK 



coming dense and soggy; that is, it will spring a little be- 

 neath the feet. If it has too much litter, it will fluff up 

 under the feet and not pack well. From 18 to 24 or even 30 

 inches of manure is placed in the pit. On top, an inch of 

 dry straw or light leaf-mold may be placed to serve as a dis- 

 tributor of the heat to the earth above. From 3 to 4 inches 

 of rich, light earth is placed upon this, in which to sow the 

 seed. The manure will ordinarily heat violently for a few 

 days. Place a soil thermometer in it, and as soon as the 

 temperature begins to fall below 90 the seeds of tomatoes 

 and egg-plants may be sown; and when it begins to fall be- 

 low 80, the seeds of cabbages, lettuce and cauliflower may 

 be sown. If the frame is not placed over a pit and the 

 manure is put on top of the ground, it will be necessary to 

 allow the body of manure to project 1 or 2 feet in all direc- 

 tions in order to prevent the edges of the bed from freez- 

 ing. 



In starting plants in a Hotbed, one must not expect to 

 gain as much time in the crop as he gains in the starting of 

 the seeds: that is, if he starts the seeds two months ahead 

 of the normal season, he will not gain two months in the 

 ripening of the crop. Ordinarily, he cannot expect to gain 

 much more than one -half the time, particularly if the plants 

 are transplanted to the field from the Hotbed. 



Some plants may be grown to maturity in the Hot- 

 bed, particularly lettuce and radishes. After Hotbeds 

 have been emptied of their plants, the sashes may be 

 stored away, and the frames, with their spent manure, 

 used for the growing of an early summer crop of mel- 

 ons or cucumbers. 



House Plants. See Window -Garden. 

 Hyacinth Hyacinth Bean (DoUchos Ldbldb) . A very 

 bean rapid -growing twiner, bearing fragrant flowers of pur- 

 ple or white. It is a fine screen plant. Plant seeds when the 

 ground is warm where the plants are to grow ; or they may 

 be started early in pots. Height 10 feet. 



