54 



GARDENING FOR THE SOUTH 



end of ea :h sasli, to draw it up more readily. All cracks 

 should be closed by fitting in pieces of boards over them. 



Fill up the box thus constructed with good stable ma- 

 nure, in which there is plenty of litter. If this is not in 

 the mass in sufficient quantity, add oak-leaves or tanbark. 

 There should be at least one-third litter in the heap. 

 Shake it up and mix it well together, adding water if at 

 all dry, and throw it into a compact heap to ferment. In 

 a week, turn it over, and if dry and musty in any part, 

 water the same. Let it be two or three days longer, and 

 then work it over thoroughly, as before, and water if ne- 

 cessary. Then put it into the frame and press it down 

 closely, and equally filling it within twelve inches of the 

 top all around, a little higher in the centre than at the 

 sides. It is well to excavate about ten inches below the 

 frame, to admit a larger body of manure. Put on the 

 sash and keep them close until the heat rises and a steam 

 appears upon the glass. As soon as the heat rises, give 

 air at noon each day, but keep closed in the evening and 

 at night, unless the heat is very violent, when a little air 

 should be given. In three days, if the manure was suffi- 

 ciently moist, the bed will be ready for use. If it has set- 

 tled unequally, level the surface and add eight inches of 

 fine, dark-colored, sandy garden-soil, spread it evenly, and 

 put on the sash. When warmed through, sow in pots 

 plunged in the mould, or in small drills from one-eighth 

 of an inch to an inch deep, varying in depth with the size 

 of the seeds, and cover by sifting fine earth on the sur- 

 face. Water gently by sprinkling through the fine rose 

 of a watering pot, until the seeds appear, when they 

 should have air every day freely (unless absolutely freez- 

 ing) which will bring them up strong, and prevent their 

 dropping off by excess of confined moisture. There are 

 very few days which will not permit opening the bed at 



