Manure Hot-Beds. — 67 



of rake or hoe, or with a piece of board with handle, made 

 especially for this purpose, of the shape shown in engraving. 

 In watering, a fine rose sprinkler, or a coarse spray nozzle 

 and tepid water should be used. It is not safe to let the soil get 

 dry, or to neglect ventilation on warm clear days. During cold 

 nights, especially at the extreme North, the beds will need 

 additional protection by straw mats or board shutters. The 

 liability of the weather to suprise us with sudden changes must 

 keep the grower always on the alert. It is never wise to with- 

 hold protection for the night because the evening is warm, or 

 neglect the" bed for the day because the morning is cloudy. 

 Sometimes in a dark day, when ventilation does not seem to be 

 required, the sun will suddenly break through the clouds at mid- 

 day, threatening to burn the plants if the sashes are not speedily 

 removed or raised. In short, hot-beds require constant and 

 careful watching. 



Shutters and Mats. — The shutters used for additional 

 protection are made of half-inch stuff, and of size of sash. A 

 stack of them piled up when not in use, is here illustrated. 



Stack of Shutters. 



The straw mats can also be made by the most unskilled person 

 from long rye straw tied with tarred string. Their manufacture 

 is a simple thing indeed. Make a frame 7 by 4 feet, as seen in 

 engraving, and tightly stretch four or five parallel stout tarred 

 strings, ten to twelve inches apart, from top to bottom. Have as 

 many balls of lighter tarred string, and fasten one end to each 

 upright string next the bottom, leaving the balls in front of the 

 frame. Now lay a whisk of straw, cut sides out, in the junction 

 of the strings at the bottom, and fasten it there by twisting each 

 of the smaller strings once around the straw and the upright 



