HOT-BEDS CHAP. 



have the top of the bed level. The bottom must be level 

 also, or else the sinking on one side or at one end, will 

 be greater than on the other side, or at the other end j 

 the frame will stand unevenly ; the slope of the lights 

 will be too steep, or not steep enough ; the bed will 

 sometimes crack ; the water will run 'off and not sink 

 into the earth ; and, in short, without a perfect level 

 whereon to place the bed, the inconveniences are 

 endless. 



53. Having got the level spot, you are to make a bed 

 as nearly as possible of the dimensions of the frame ; and 

 the best possible way is to take the frame itself, put it 

 upon the ground where you intend the bed shall stand, 

 put up a straight piece of wood on the outside of each 

 corner of the frame, while it is standing upon the 

 ground 5 then take the frame away ; then put a thin 

 board edgeways upon the ground on the back, and on 

 the front, and at the two ends, which board ought to 

 come on the outsides of the four stakes, and to be held 

 up by four pegs. You have then a true guide for making 

 the bottom of the bed j and you begin by putting a little 

 of the longest of the dung just at the bottom. Then 

 you go on shaking the dung into this sort of box, divid- 

 ing straw from straw, and mixing long and short duly 

 together, in the same manner as was before directed in 

 the case of the conical heaps, and taking care to keep 

 beating the dung down with the prong in every part of 

 the bed. When you have shaken on dung to the thick- 

 ness of four or five inches, beat all over again, and so on 

 at every four or five inches deep, until the work be 

 finished. When you get to the top of the boards, you 





