FORCING AND FORCING STRUCTURES 



59 



with salt hay, as shown in figure 14, is extensively used in some 

 localities. Board shutters are usually made of J-inch tongue-and- 

 grooved lumber, cleated together to form a shutter the size of the 

 sash used. 



Watering the hotbed. No single operation connected with the 

 maintenance of a hotbed is of more importance than watering. The 

 time and method of watering determine the growth of the plants, 

 their freedom from disease, and the effectiveness of the hotbed. 

 Watering should be done in the morning and on bright days only. 

 The use of water in the evening lowers the temperature at the most 



FIG. 1 5. A temporary hotbed 



critical time of day. A moist atmosphere at night is often harmful, 

 as it stimulates the development of disease and has a tendency to 

 weaken the plants. 



. Temporary hotbeds. Hotbeds may be temporary so far as their 

 use and location are concerned. Temporary hotbeds usually consist 

 of a flat compact heap of fermenting manure on which a frame (see 

 figure 15) is placed and well banked with additional manure. As 

 soon as the frame has been placed, a layer of good compost or rich 

 garden soil, three inches deep, is scattered evenly over the inclosed 

 area of the frame. Then the sash are put on and the temperature is 



