662 'Transactions of the American Institute. 



Location. — Select a south-western exposure, protected from the 

 north wind by a board fence, hedge, or the side of a building. Then 

 excavate the ground eighteen inches deep, eight feet M-ide, and as 

 long as required, allowing three feet for each sash. 



Making the Beds. — Gardeners in the latitude of New York start 

 their hot-beds from 1st to the 15th of February. When started 

 early more manure is used, so that enough of bottom heat is sup- 

 plied to keep the young plants growing until mild weather sets in. 

 Commence in the chosen position by putting on a layer of cold 

 horse manure six or eight inches in thickness on the excavated 

 surface. Begin at one end of the intended bed, and be careful that 

 the first layer, as well as all succeeding ones, are spread evenly. 

 Then add a second layer of hot manure about the same thickness as 

 the first. The mass may then be trodden down by walking on the 

 top of the manure, keeping the feet close together. Another layer 

 of hot manure may then be put on, and the frames placed in position, 

 and pressed down firmly. Then add another layer of fine manure 

 ten or twelve inches in thickness inside of the frames, to finish with, 

 when the sashes may be put on. 



The beds being eight feet wide and the frames only six, there will 

 be a margin of twelve to sixteen inches outside, which should be 

 banked up with manure as high as the top of the frame. 



Frames. — These may be made with common boards nailed together, 

 with posts in each corner for support. The frames should be five 

 feet ten inches wide from front to rear, and as long as desired ; the 

 front board twelve inches high, and the rear eighteen to twenty- 

 four. The frame when made should stand level on the bottom, 

 forming an inclined plane on top, so that when the sashes are put on 

 there will be enough of fall from rear to front to cast the water 

 readily. 



Cross tics six feet long, made of narrow strips of boards, one bj 

 three inches, should be morticed into the front and rear boards of 

 the frame every three feet. These will support the sashes and 

 strengthen the frames. 



Sashes. — These can be bought from any sash manufacturer. They 

 should be well constructed with seasoned wood. If not, the heat of 

 the beds will warp the wood, displace and break the glass. The nar- 

 row lights of glass, four by six, are preferable. These should be cut 

 curved on the lower edge, so that the water will run off' in the mid- 

 dle of the light in single drops, and not form lenses, which would bo 

 likely to scorch the plants. 



