CHAPTER IV. 
THE ‘‘ FIRE BED.”’ 
There is a device or structure used in southern New 
Jersey to a limited extent (and perhaps elsewhere) known as 
the fire bed or hot air bed. Fire takes the place of ferment- 
ing manure, and yet it is different from a greenhouse. 
It is not in wide or general favor, but is well adapted to 
certain purposes, as for instance for starting sweet potato 
plants in early spring. : 
The fire bed consists, essentially, of a broad bed of earth 
with fire beneath it, and with a covering of muslin or glass. 
A crosswise section of the bed is shown in the smaller cut 
and a-lengthwise section in the large cut. The cuts, with a 
descriptive article, appeared in farm Journal for March, 
1886. 
TIVM LNOH4 
ASHES 
LDL 
Cross SECTION. LENGTHWISE SECTION OF 
FIRE BED. 
The larger cut shows the relative position of the furnace 
to the bed. The ash pit is several feet below the natural 
surface of the ground. The front wall must be of brick or 
stone, but the wall at the opposite end of the bed may be of 
wood, if desired. ‘There is an arch over the fire, and another 
over the hot air chamber, with earth above, as shown. The 
hot air flue, which is also the smoke flue, is carried grad- 
24 
