SECT. XXII. 



&g HOT BEDS* 



in 



•n an heap, in a conical form ; and when it has taken 

 a thorough heat, and has been fmoking or fweating 

 for two or three days, it fliould be turned over, mov- 

 ing the outfide in, or mixing the colder parts with the 

 hot. When it has taken heat again for two or three 

 days, give it a fecond turn as before, and having lain 

 the fame time, it will be in proper order for making 3 

 good lafting bed with a fteady heat. If in hafte, it 

 may be made into a bed after the firrt heating ; but it 

 will be better for ftifting a^ain. or even a third time* 

 When dung is ready before wanted, keep turning it 

 over, left it be too much fpent. It will be proper to 

 begin to work fre/h dung a week or ten days before it is 

 to be ufed ; but if the dung is not frefh, it is only ne- 

 ceflary to throw it together for once heating. 



Dunghills , from which it is defigned to collefl: ma- 

 terials for a hot bed, fhould be taken notice of in time 4 

 that they are not left to work themfelves zveak by long 

 fmoking, without opening and turning over. Beds 

 may be made of dung from a week to a month old. 



If heavy rain 9 cutting wind, or driving /now, mould 

 keep the heaps from heating, and the dung is wanted, 

 lay fonie ftraw round it, and it will protect and fetch 

 up the heat. If at firit putting it together there is not 

 a general moijlurc in the dung, it mull be given it, by 

 caiting water evenly over it as it is laid. This may be 

 done with a hand-bowl from a pail, but it would be 

 better to ufe a large watering pot. No water muft be- 

 ufed to dung when it is got dark ; this is, however, the 

 colour that it fljouid begin to have when put together in 

 a bed, which the directions given for working it will 

 bring it to. 



The Jize of a hot bed, as to length and breadth, is 

 (of courfej to be according to the frame; and the 

 height of it according to the Jeafon, and the degree of 

 heat requifite to the nature oi the plant to be cultivated. 

 In a dry foil, a bed may be Junk in the ground, from fix 

 Miches to a foot, to make it more convenient to get at 



