Starting the Plants 



77 



more, however, than one-third of the latter — be 

 mixed among it, so much the better. Get this ma- 

 nure several days ahead of the time wanted for use 

 and prepare by stacking in a compact, tramped- 

 down heap. Turn it over after three or four days, 

 and re-stack, being careful to put the former top and 

 sides of the pile now on the inside. 



Having nov/ ready the heating apparatus and the 

 superstructure of our miniature greenhouse, the 

 building of it is a very simple matter. If the ground 

 is frozen, spread the manure in a low, flat heap — 

 nine or ten feet side, a foot and a half deep, and as 

 long as the number of sash to be used demands — a 

 cord of manure thus furnishing a bed for about 

 three sash, not counting for the ends of the string 

 or row. This heap should be well trodden down and 

 upon it should be placed or built the box or frame 

 upon which the sash are to rest. In using this 

 method it will be more convenient to have the frame 

 made up beforehand and ready to place upon the 

 manure, as shown in one of the illustrations. This 

 should be at least twelve inches high at the front 

 and some half a foot higher at the back. Fill in 

 with at least four inches — better six — of good gar- 

 den soil containing plenty of humus, that it may 

 allow water to soak through readily. 



The other method is to construct the frames on 

 the ground before severe freezing, and in this case 



