HOTBED AND COLD FRAME 



It is often advisable to pile a little soil about 

 the outside of the frame to act as a water 

 shed. 



Now that the frame is constructed place 

 three rows of half tile on the bottom and fill 

 in between these with rough ashes to a depth 

 of two inches. Ashes may be used without 

 the tile. This will insure proper bottom drain- 

 age and will encourage fermentation in the 

 manure. The hotbed should then be covered 

 with boards and left until February or March 

 when it should be filled. 



Manure. The best manure is produced 

 from grain fed horses or mules, where their 

 bedding has been made of straw — three parts 

 excrement and one part straw. This should 

 be moist and in a fermenting condition before 

 placed in the hotbed. It may be secured from 

 any stable. One small load will be sufiicient 

 for a hotbed three by six feet. Never use 

 partly decayed or burned (slate colored) 

 manure but always the fresh. Be sure that 

 the manure and straw are well mixed and place 



101 



