CONSTRUCTION AND CARE OF HOTBEDS 



fessional gardeners put the manure in a pile and 

 turn it over once or twice as it heats before placing 

 it in the pits, but they handle so large a quantity 

 that it is not possible to get sufficient at one time 

 for all the beds, so older manure is used and allowed 

 to heat in piles. For the home garden, however, I 

 have found this way more satisfactory and far less 

 work. Occasionally, when not able to get sufficient 

 fresh manure for all my beds, I have supplemented 

 it with manure from the heap at the barn, which 

 had begun to heat, and have found it answered very 

 well. 



When the temperature has risen to a hundred 

 degrees or more the mass should be tramped down 

 as firmly and evenly as possible and an inch or two 

 of old manure, made very fine, placed on top of it. 

 Over this place four or five inches of good soil, 

 composed of garden loam, leaf mould, and a little 

 sharp sand well mixed. The surface soil should 

 be entirely free from all rough matter, stones, 

 roots, and the like, and to secure this condition, it 

 will be well to pass it through a sand sieve or coal- 

 ash sieve. 



When the heat has begun to subside, so that the 



thermometer indicates ninety or less, the seed may 



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