IIO VEGETABLE GARDENING 



part of litter give satisfactory results. If too rich, forest 

 leaves may be added. Manure with shavings as the litter 

 is never satisfactory. The manure from horses well fed 

 on grain is the best for hotbed use. 



Preparation of the manure should begin 10 or 12 days 

 before the time when the beds will be wanted for seed 

 sowing or transplanting. A stable or a protected shed is 

 necessary in preparing the manure for the best results 

 in cold weather, because hard rains and severe weather 

 may hinder or prevent fermentation. 



Fresh manure from city livery stables, shipped on cars 

 or barges, is often in proper condition for the pit when 

 received, although piling and turning are usually neces- 

 sary. The piles should be 4 or 5 feet wide, about 4 feet 

 high and of any convenient length. When the manure 

 is thrown from the wagon it should be tramped, but not 

 too compactly. If the manure is rather dry, the addition 

 of hot water will help to start fermentation. Ordinarily, 

 the pile will begin to steam in a day or two. When 

 fermentation is well under way, restack, placing the ex- 

 terior of the pile on the interior of the new pile. After 

 the manure is allowed to remain in this condition two or 

 three days, or until the entire mass is hot, the pit should 

 then be filled. 



159. Filling the pit. The manure should be thrown 

 into the pit in successive layers of 5 or 6 inches and 

 tramped firmly, especially along the sides and in the 

 corners of the frames. The manure will settle several 

 inches, and allowance should be made for this when 

 filling. After the manure is in, from 4 to 6 inches of good 

 soil is placed on the manure. Two inches of soil is suffi- 

 cient covering to absorb steam and to keep the air pure 

 if flats are used instead of sowing or planting directly in 

 the soil. The frame is also banked with manure. 



1 60. Other types of manure hotbeds. The pit is some- 

 times dug a foot wider than the frame is to be and not 



