102 GAEDENING FOE PLEASUEE. 



CHAPTEE XXXII. 



HOT-BEDS. 



The sunken pit described on page 98 may be readily 

 converted into a hot-bed ; all that is necessary to do be- 

 ing .to place hot manure or other heating material in the 

 pit and tread it moderately firm with the feet. The ma- 

 nure should fill the pit to the depth of two feet, and then 

 be covered with five or six inches of light rich soil, on 

 which to sow the seed. This sunken pit prevents the 

 escape of heat from the manure much better than when 

 the hot-bed is made on the surface in the usual way. 

 The preparation of the heating material for the hot-bed 

 requires some attention. It should be manure fresh from 

 the horse-stable, and when they can be procured, it is 

 better to mix it with about an equal bulk of leaves from 

 the woods. If the weather is very cold, the bulk of ma- 

 nure must be of good size, from five to six wagon loads, 

 thrown in a compact conical heap, else the mass may be 

 so chilled that fermentation cannot take place and no 

 heat generated. If a shed is convenient, the manure 

 may be placed there, especially if the quantity is small, 

 to be protected from cold until the heat begins to rise. 

 The heap should be turned and well broken up before 

 being used for the hot-beds, so that the rank steam may 

 escape and the manure become of the proper " sweet- 

 ened " condition for the healthy germination of the seeds. 

 After the manure has been packed in the pit to the depth 

 and in the manner described, the sashes should be placed 

 on the frame and kept close until the heat is again gen- 

 erated in the hot-bed. Now plunge a thermometer into 

 the manure, and if all is right it will indicate 100 degrees 

 or more, but this is yet too hot as bottom heat for the 

 growth of seeds or plants, and a few days of delay must 



