HOT-BEDS. 35 



and will continue to rise in temperature for eight or 

 ten days, and will often rise high, running considera- 

 bly over a hundred degrees. If the bed is kept moist, 

 and this can be tested by digging into parts of it, there 

 is no danger of its "burning.' 7 This does not mean 

 that there is any danger of it actually generating fire, 

 but the stuff becomes dry and discharges valuable 

 fertilizing quality as gases, and hence is about de- 

 stroyed. When large quantities of fresh manure are 

 used, the gardeners dump it in piles, and fork it over 

 every day or two to keep it cool enough, and at the 

 end of ten days or two weeks place it in the hot-bed. 



After the manure has been placed in the frame, an 

 inch of fresh loam should be spread over it, to arrest 

 any gases that may be escaping. After about ten 

 days of fermenting, the manure has reached its highest 

 temperature, and seed can be sown in the loam with- 

 out danger. From this time on, the temperature falls 

 gradually, until decomposition is complete. 



The only advantage a hot- bed has over a cold-frame 

 is that the decomposing matter gives off heat, and the 

 amount of heat given off will vary with the amount of 

 manure used. If one desires to keep a bed extra warm, 

 the frame may be banked with fresh manure. 



