182 Gardening 
Fic. 106. The first step in preparing the hotbed. Throwing in and trampling 
down the manure. 
The frame is then placed in the pit, with the corners 
resting on these posts, and a nail driven through the 
frame into the post at each corner. This arrangement 
holds the frame firmly in place and keeps it from settling. 
Next, pack fresh horse manure firmly into the pit to 
a depth of about 16 inches. The manure should be 
about two-thirds straw and should not have been exposed 
to the weather. Itis best for use when about 10 days old 
and after it has been kept in a pile and forked over two 
or three times. None but horse or mule manure is 
satisfactory. Place the manure in the pit in thin layers, 
trample each layer until it is compact, and be sure that 
the corners are well filled and that the surface is level. 
If seedlings are to be grown in flats, from 4 to 6 inches 
of sand is then placed on the manure. If seeds are to 
be sown directly in the bed itself (this is not recom- 
mended), good garden soil is used ‘instead of sand. This 
brings the level of the material within the frame up to 
the level of the ground outside. Above this the front of 
