FORMATION AXD MANAGEMENT OF HOT-BEDS. 57 



to adopt a far more economical mode, both in the cost of 

 the frame-work and heating material. This is done 

 somewhat after the manner adopted for cold frames. 

 Parallel excavations are made, usually in lengths of sixty 

 feet, two and a half feefc deep, and six feet wide ; the 

 sides of these pits are boarded up with any rough board- 

 ing, nailed to posts, and raised above the surface eighteen 

 inches at the back and twelve inches at front. Strips are 

 stretched across, on which the sashes rest, wide enough 

 to receive the edges of the two sashes where they meet, 

 and allow of a piece of about an inch in width between 

 them, so that the sash can be shoved backward and for- 

 ward and be kept in place in giving air, etc. 



The heating material to form the hot-bed should be 

 horse dung, fresh from the stables, adding to which, when 

 accessible, about one-half its bulk of leaves from the 

 woods. The manure and leaves should be well mixed 

 and trodden down in successive layers, forming a conical 

 heap, large enough to generate fermentation in severe 

 winter weather. Care must be taken that the material is 

 not allowed to lie scattered and get frozen, else great 

 delay will ensue before heat can be generated. A few 

 days after the pile has been thrown together, and a lively 

 fermentation has taken place, which will be indicated by 

 the escape of steam from the heap, it should be again 

 turned over and carefully shaken out, formed again into 

 a pile, and left until the second fermentation occurs, 

 which will be usually in two or three days. It may now 

 be placed in the pit, or on the surface for the hot-bed 

 already alluded to, being regularly beaten down by the 

 back of the fork, and trodden so that it is uniformly of 

 the same solidity, and to the required depth, two and a 

 half feet. The sashes are now placed on the frames and 

 kept close until the heat rises ; at this time a thermom- 

 eter, plunged in the heating material, should indicate 

 about 100 degrees but this is too hot for almost any veg- 



