French Garden. Preparation. 83 



ridges, with a sharp-pitched top to throw off rain. Stored in 

 this way there is very little fermentation or decay and it does not 

 lose much of its virtue. When the ridges are large ventilating 

 shafts are made in them as they are built, every 10ft. or so, to 

 prevent overheating. These shafts are made by placing the 

 manure round a bushel basket (or anything similar, a little 

 wider at the top than at the bottom) as the stack is built, 

 raising the basket each time the manure approaches the rim. 

 When the hot-beds are made equal quantities of the newest 

 manure and that which has been stacked the longest are mixed 

 together, and it is found that the heat produced by this mixture 

 is milder and more lasting than when fresh manure is used 

 alone. Where tree-leaves are easy to obtain in quantity they 

 may be substituted for about half the quantity of manure in 

 making the hot-beds, and will give equally good results. 



The quantity of manure required for the early hot-beds in 

 the present scheme, and for raising seedlings in spring, is 

 about 70 to 80 tons. Of this, about one-half should be accumu- 

 lated by the end of December, and the remainder brought in 

 during January, but if there is any uncertainty about getting 

 the fresh manure when it is wanted, it would be much better to 

 have the whole quantity stacked beforehand than to run the 

 risk of the beds being delayed through waiting for the manure. 

 A further 30 to 40 tons will be required by the beginning of 

 April, for making the beds for cucumbers and melons. 



The manure should be that from ^tables where corn-fed 

 horses are bedded with straw. There should be no peat, saw- 

 dust, shavings, or rubbish mixed with it. 



In the French garden the soil which is solely used for making 

 seed beds, covering hot-beds, and for surfacing all beds before 

 plants are set out is made from exhausted hot-bed manure. 

 This is repeatedly turned, beaten about and broken up, and 

 finally passed through a screen to free it from lumps. It has 

 then somewhat of the appearance and character of fine leaf 

 mould. The results from the use of this material are all that 

 can be desired. Seeds germinate in it quickly, evenly, and 

 strongly ; seedlings lift with a mass of fibrous roots, and plants 

 grow quickly and mature early. 



After the first season the old hot-beds will put sufficient of 



