262 AMEEICAN GEAPE CULTUEE. 



lent and easily made ; boards, blankets, carpets, 

 etc., are also used ; but the best thing we have 

 tried is a light frame made of laths and filled 

 with straw, and fixed to the back of the bed 

 with a bolt hinge, so that it may not only lie 

 flat on the sash, but be moved to any angle. 

 When placed upright, it forms a good protection 

 from northerly winds. It is in common use 

 among the French, who generally weave the 

 straw together in mats, which are stiffened by 

 wooden slips on the edges, and at intervals 

 through the middle, if necessary. 



Hot beds are commonly made by using long 

 and coarse manure for the heating material; 

 but we must alter and vary the material in this 

 case, in order to produce uniform and good re- 

 sults. For our purpose, dead leaves are the 

 best material. Manure alone makes too strong 

 a heat. Equal parts of leaves and horse manure 

 make a very good and durable heating material ; 

 but leaves alone make the "sweetest," most 

 even, as well as most durable bed, one five feet 

 thick sometimes retaining its heat for a year. 

 If leaves alone are used, they should be gathered 

 in the fall or early winter, and placed loosely 

 together, and under cover, if convenient ; or 

 boards may be laid over them to keep off snow 



