CHAPTER III. 
THE HOT BED. 
The hot bed is 
merely a modified cold 
\ frame; an improved 
\ < cold frame; a heated 
\SSES\ cold frame, if the con- 
SAU tradiction be pardona- 
ble. The same pattern 
of sash is employed, 
but the board sides of 
the frame are either higher above ground or deeper below 
ground. Hot beds are not often made in long ranges like 
cold frames, as the forcing house is more economical for large 
operations, as will be explained hereafter. The hot bed will, 
however, always have a place in private gardens. d 
It will be observed that the board sides of the hot bed 
are planned for depth ; for holding a considerable quantity of 
manure underneath the soil. It is sometimes recommended 
that the manure be two or two and a half feet deep: we 
believe that one foot of properly prepared manure, well 
tramped, is quite sufficient. Thus, if we have one foot of 
manure, four inches of soil, and eight inches of air, the box 
must be made two feet deep. In filling the bed it is well to 
put in fifteen inches of manure, as it will speedily settle to 
twelve inches, and will leave just about enough air space 
under the glass. 
The hot bed is usually made ready in February or 
March, in the latitude of Philadelphia. It is well to sink 
the box into the earth for half its depth, and heap the earth 
up against the boards on the outside, as a protection against 
cold winds. Hot beds may be made up in December and 
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