HOT-BEDS, COLD FEAMES AND PITS. 89 



frame should be made of inch and a half plank as high 

 again in the back as in the front, to give the sashes the 

 proper slope to the sun, and sufficient inclination to carry 

 off the wet. The front, of course, is towards the south. 

 Let the back and front be nailed to corner posts, so as 

 to admit the ends to fit in neatly, which ends are to be 

 made fast to the posts by common carriage bolts, in order 

 that the frame may be taken asunder to store when not 

 in use. All joints in the sides and ends should be tongued 

 and grooved to prevent the admission of cold air or the 

 loss of warm air from the bed. Each end should be made 

 an inch and a half higher than the back and front, and 

 grooved out one-half its thickness, to permit the sash to 

 slide and leave the other half to support the outside. At 

 the corner, also, of each sash, let another piece of scant- 

 ling be placed, and on the top of these, narrow strips 

 the length of the sash are to be nailed, for the sash to 

 slide upon. Between the sashes nail an inch strip a 

 little thicker than the sash to the narrow plank on which 

 they slide, and put on the sash; and upon this strip, in 

 cold weather, lay another narrow strip, projecting over 

 the sash a little, to cover the joint and keep out the cold. 

 Provide for the bed a full supply of good horse manure 

 from the stable, mixed with moist litter, preferring that 

 which is fresh, moist and full of heat. If there is not 

 sufficient litter in the mass the heat will not be lasting; 

 so as a substitute add oak-leaves or tan-bark. There 

 should be at least one-third litter in the heap. Shake 

 it up and mix it well together, sprinkling with water if 

 dry, and throw it into a compact heap to ferment. In two 

 or three days, if warm, or if cold, in a week, turn it over, 

 and if dry and musty in any part, water again. Let it 

 alone two or three days longer, and then work it over 

 thoroughly, as before, and water if necessary. In a dry, 

 sheltered situation opening to the south, mark out the 



