Gardening in Californi 



Over the surface place a layer of ashes, sand, or leaf-mold, well 

 decomposed, spreading it evenly about three inches thick. 



The Hot-bed is now ready for the frame, and after the rank 

 steam has escaped, and the temperature of the air in the frame 

 has fallen to eighty-five degrees Fahrenheit, it is ready for receiv- 

 ing plants, cuttings or seeds. It is well to allow a little ventila- 

 tion at the top of the frame night and day for a few days, after 

 new beds are put up. 



BOTTOM HEAT. 



What is meant by Bottom-heat is a bed of sand, ashes or 

 other light plunging material, artificially heated either by hot 

 water or steam pipes, by tanks filled with hot water, or by a hot- 

 bed made of fermenting material. In this sand or ash-bed the 

 pots or pans or boxes are "plunged," being buried to the rim. 

 Bottom-heat is considered indispensable for propagating by cut- 

 tings or seeds in early Spring. 



