OF HOT BEDS. 



SECT. XIII. 



and manage. But beds made forward in the fea r (.m 

 fhould rather be on the furface, for the fake of being 

 able to add the ftronger linings, &c. 



The bed fhould not be of greater dimenfions than 

 neceflary to hold the frame up firmly, i. e. three or 

 four inches wider every way, though fome approve of 

 making it fix, which may be proper if the frame is 

 fmall, as otherwife the body of dung might not held 

 heat enough for the neceflary length of time. As a 

 guide for laying the dung regular, (according to the 

 fize of the frame} drive /lakes, of about the height the 

 bed is to be, at the four corners. 



It is the practice of fome gardeners, when they mould 

 the bed, to take the frame off, and lay it two or three 

 inches thick all over, and then put the frame on again. 

 This is done to guard againll fteariiifrg, and is proper 

 when the frames are fh allow : in this cafe, the bed muft 

 be fix inches wider every way than the frame, in order 

 to hold up the mould for the frame to reft upon. 



In cafe of an infufficieni quantity of good horfe dung, 

 that of coivs, oxen, or pigs, if it is firawy, and not too 

 wet, may be mixed with h, in the proportion ot one- 

 fourth, or upon a pinch more ; efpecially in an advanced 

 part of the feafon, or to cultivate things that are only 

 forcing, and do not naiuraily require heat. In the cafe 

 of a deficient quantity of proper materials alfo, fome dry 

 -old worn-out horfe dung may be laid at bottom, and a 

 little of it on the top. Offal hay may be mixed as the 

 bed is made ; or a little of mown g rajs, or ireeas. efpe- 

 cially for late made beds ; hut clear jl rave, well wetted, 

 ffiay be put at the bottom a foot thick, and reckoned 

 about equal to five or fix inches of dung. Cucumbers 

 and melons have been raifed upon Jlraw beds, mixed 

 with lea coal aftes ; and thus the rank fleam of dung 

 avoided, which fometimes injures plants, if it does 

 not give the fruit a lefs agreeable tafte than they other-^ 

 wife would have. Sea coal apes among dung, has 

 been recommended to continue the heat, of the bed, 



and 



