No. 144.] 441 



rade upon the opposite side does likewise, and these are looped in 

 by means of the pieces of twine already spoken of, and the ope- 

 ration is so continued until the mat is made. Rushes would be a 

 better material for this purpose than straw, etc., for they will not 

 so readily soak wet • but in their absence, wheaten or rye straw 

 might be used in preference to hay or other short material, be- 

 cause of its length and evenness. 



In due time the necessary amount of horse dang should be 

 saved, and it should be borne in mind that the richness and heat- 

 ing quality of this manure will depend much upon the food given 

 the horses from which it is produced. If they have been highly 

 groomed, a considerable part of their bedding, which generally 

 accompanies the manure, should be mixed with it, so that the 

 beds afterward to be made may not be too hot. 



The use of spent tan is frequently desirable, and especially so 

 where it can be procured cheaply. Professor MapeSj speaking of 

 this material, says: 



" Gardeners often find that their hot beds lose heat before the 

 season is sufficiently advanced to part with their use. By mix- 

 ing with the horse droppings a quantity of spent tan, they con- 

 tinue them in heat long after the horse manure has ceased to 

 be active, and by such an arrangement, the slowly decomposable 

 tan is rendered an elficient manure for the next season's opera- 

 tions ; for when properly decomposed, no manure is more rich in 

 the earthy salts than the decomposed bark of trees. The large 

 quantity of carbonaceous matter resulting from its decomposition^ 

 renders it retentive of ammonia, while its free, loose characterj 

 causes soils, otherwise too compact, to be free and fertile." 



As every person present is doubtless familiar with the con- 

 struction of hot bed frames, I sliall not treat this part of the sub- 

 ject in detail. It may be well to state, however, that the double 

 board system, for the sides, containing a space of confined air, 

 which is one of the best non-conductors of heat, is now fast coming 

 into use ; for by its means there is a more evenness of temperature 

 kept up. The mistake of cutting the glass for the sashes square^ 



