14 THE AMATEURS’ GUIDE 
MANURES FOR HOT-BEDS AND PITS. 
Horse-manure is generally used for forming hot-beds. Bark is 
only preferable to manure because the substance which undergoes 
the process of putrid fermentation requires longer time to decay. 
Hence it is found useful for hot-beds or pits, as it requires to be 
seldomer moved or renewed than any other substance. Leaves, 
especially those of the oaks, come nearest to bark, and have the 
additional advantage that, when perfectly rotten, like manure, 
they form an excellent compost. ‘Recent stable manure requires 
to be in ridges or beds a month, and turned over several times, 
before it is fit for this purpose. Tan and leaves also require a 
month. Wood-ashes are often mixed with the manures used in 
hot-beds, and, by some, are supposed to promote the steadiness 
and duration of their heat, and, at least, to revive it if some- 
what decayed. ‘Tan is also used for the same purpose, and, if 
mixed in proportion of one-third to two of manure, it will form 
a more durable and less violent heat than a bed composed wholly 
of manure. 
HOT-BED OR PIT. 
The hot-bed or pit is an important and necessary appendage to 
the flower-garden, and should never be omitted if room can be 
spared and an elegible site obtained. Many tender varieties of 
plants can be safely kept in an ordinary pit through the severest 
winters. Beside enabling the Amateur to save many valuable 
plants which would otherwise be lost from the effects of frost, if 
the spring should prove backward or unfavorable to the sowing 
of annual flower-seed, this difficulty may be readily overcome by 
the aid of a small pit, thereby enabling him to be fully prepared 
to mect any emergency which may present itself. Many plants, 
