36 COLD FRAMES AND HOT-BEDS. 



of the frame, a strip projecting above the ends the thick- 

 ness of the sash must be nailed, to keep the sash hi place. 



Such a frame is usually just set on the ground in a shel- 

 tered situation, and banked up with manure, leaves, salt 

 hay or earth to keep out the frost as much as possible. 



There are two ways of making a hot-bed. One is to 

 excavate the ground to a depth of two to two and a half 

 feet, and the area of the frame to be used. The other is 

 to stack the manure above ground in a square pile two and 

 a half feet high, and about eighteen niches wider each 

 way than the area of the frame. The first is the safest 

 and best method. 



The manure to be used should be fresh horse-dung, to 

 which should be added, if they can be had, an equal bulk 

 of leaves. These must be thoroughly mixed together and 

 thrown into a conical heap, treading it down firmly as it is 

 made up. In a few days fermentation will take place, and 

 steam escape freely from tlie heap. It must now be turned 

 over, well shaken out, and made up into a pile as before, 

 and allowed to remain until a second fermentation takes 

 place, which will be in three or four days. It should now 

 be placed in the pit or piled up, as the case may be, beat- 

 ing it down firmly with the back of the fork, and trodden 

 down so as to make it of uniform consistence. The frames 

 and sashes are then to be placed upon it and banked up 

 with manure, leaves or other suitable material, and then 

 kept close until fermentation again ensues. In two or 

 three days a thermometer plunged into the mass will 

 probably indicate 100 degrees; a little air may now be 

 given by pulling down the sashes an inch or two, and 

 when the thermometer indicates 90 or 85 degrees, six or 

 eight inches deep of soil should be placed over the manure. 

 This soil should be composed of one-third well-rotted 



