— 87 — 



;er- 

 lat 

 lion 

 ^in- 



caid 



to 



litate the escape of the rain and shower water ; 2<^ 

 to help the concentration of the rays of the sun. 



Q. What should be placed on the top of the layer of 

 dung contained in the wooden frame ? 



A. On the top of this dung a coating of from three 

 inches and a half to five inches of good light, and 

 fat sandy soil, should be laid. If this soil is mixed 

 with mould, or with good rotten forest or swamp 

 soil, so much the better. 



Q. How long after the bed has been prepared 

 should this good soil or mould be laid on ? 



A. Four or five days after the bed. has been pre- 

 pared ; that is to say when the dung is in a state of 

 fermentation. 



Q. How would you prepare the necessary dung 

 for a hot bed in this country? 



A. This dung can be prepared in diflferent ways ; 

 but the following method suits best in most cases. 

 Three barrels of fresh horse or sheep dung are 

 mixed with a barrel of cow dung with the pitch 

 fork. This mixture is left to ferment in heaps during 

 one week and then mixed or stirred over again with 

 the pitch fork. After a fortnight, the dung has ac- 

 quired all the necessary qualities to allow it to be 

 put in the beds. 



Q. At what time of the year, should the hot beds 

 be prepared and sown ? 



