214 GREENHOUSE MANAGEMENT. 



pile and forked over every day until a supply is obtained 

 for the bed, as is recommended by some authors. When 

 fresh manure is used, the crop comes on quickly, and 

 although it may last only a short time, it will be fully 

 as large as one from old manure, which will last twice as 

 long, and occupy the space for that much longer time. 



Ilaving obtained a sufficient quantity of manure, it 

 should be prepared for use in the bed. This can best be 

 done under a shed, as the rain will then be kept off, and 

 the manure will be less subjected to the drying action of 

 the sun and wind, although during the summer and 

 early autumn months, the manure may be prepared in 

 the open air, if the pile is kept covered with straw and 

 mats, or shutters, to keep off the rain. If a sufficient 

 amount cannot be obtained at one time, care should be 

 taken that what is first obtained does not burn or fire- 

 fang. It should be placed in a pile, and after being lev- 

 eled off should be well tramped. If it shows signs of 

 heating, it is well to spread it out, and after it has 

 become cool, replace as before. As soon as a sufficient 

 supply has been secured, it should be worked over and 

 broken up, thoroughly mixing it together, rejecting all 

 portions that are "burnt," as well as the coarse, dry 

 straw and all foreign matters. 



It is then placed in beds about three feet high, and 

 five or six wide, leveling off the pile and packing it down 

 with the fork. If the manure is at all dry, it is well to 

 moisten each layer, using tepid water, if convenient, 

 particularly in the winter. As soon as fermentation 

 begins and $he pile has warmed through, the mass 

 should be turned over and made into a rectangular bed, 

 as before. As it is being worked over, it should be well 

 shaken out, and the outside portions worked into the 

 center. If any of the manure seems dry, it may again 

 be watered, using a watering pot with a fine rose, and, if 

 the pile was well warmed through, it will be well to 



