2O B1GGLE GARDEN BOOK 



hand, so that no mistake will be made in the meas- 

 urements. Cross-bars or sash supports, 2x3 inches, 

 are placed three feet apart where each two sash 

 meet. Locate the hotbed in a well-drained spot. 



Fresh horse-manure, containing a liberal amount 

 of straw or other litter, is the best material to fur- 

 nish heat in the hotbed. If manure is saved from 

 the home stable, it should be collected and preserved 

 under cover. It requires about one two-horse load for 

 every two sash. When sufficient manure has been 

 saved, or procured from livery stables, tramp com- 

 pactly into piles about five feet square and three feet 

 high. In three or four days, or less, considerable 

 heat will be generated by fermentation, and the 

 manure should be tramped into another pile, throw- 

 ing the outer portions into the center of the pile. 

 When fermentation is well under way in the second 

 pile, throw the manure into the pit in successive layers, 

 tramping continuously. Fill the pit to within four or 

 five inches of the top of the frame on the south side. 

 The manure will settle several inches before time for 

 sowing the seed. Place sash on the frame imme- 

 diately after filling, and plunge a thermometer in the 

 heating material so that the bulb is four inches below 

 the surface. The heat will rise rapidly until it 

 reaches a temperature of, at least, 120. A high 

 temperature may be maintained for a week or more, 

 but it will not do to sow seed over such hot material. 

 Wait until the temperature drops below 90, then 

 place two or three inches of good soil over the 

 manure if flats are to be used (see Chapter III), or 

 about four inches if the seed is to be sown directly 

 in the soil. 



COLDFRAMES. Coldframes are usually con- 

 structed in the same manner as hotbeds except that 



