74 PRACTICAL FLORICULTURE. 



the protecting cloth sash to be an excellent covering for 

 Pansy and other seeds sown in the fall, as it keeps the 

 ground moist, preventing it from drying up by the sun 

 and air, and giving just the amount necessary for the 

 germination of seeds ; but it should not be used to cover 

 anything in this latitude from the first of December to 

 the middle of April, as it would not answer in severe 

 weather. 



CHAPTER XV. 

 THE CONSTRUCTION OF HOT-BEDS. 



The most economical way of making hot-beds is to 

 place the manure in pits made in the way described for 

 cold frames, except that they may be made a foot or so 

 deeper, so as to admit at least eighteen inches of manure. 

 The heating material for hot-beds is usually horse manure, 

 but refuse hops, leaves from the woods, or tan-bark, will 

 answer nearly as well when one is more readily attainable 

 than another. 



Whatever material is employed, it should be thrown into 

 a heap of sufficient size to generate heat, and be repeat- 

 edly turned until the rank heat has been expelled, which 

 will usually be done by turning twice. The mass will be 

 in the proper condition to be put into the pit in eight or 

 ten days from the time of starting with the raw 

 material. In spreading it in the pit, it should be firmly 

 trodden down to the depth of eighteen inches, so that 

 the heat may be longer retained. If the hot-bed is to be 

 used to receive plants in pots, a covering of four to six 

 inches of sawdust, in which to place or plunge the pots, 

 should be put over the heating material. If the bed is to 

 be used for the sowing of annual or other seeds, acorering 

 of six inches of light soil should be put over the manure. 

 Before placing plants, or sowing seeds in the hot-beds, 



