THE HOTBED AND THE COLDFRAME 



the protected spot chosen for the bed's location — a 

 place where the north winds cannot reach. If the 

 manure is dry, sprinkle it with tepid water to start 

 decomposition. 



Cross-section diagram of a Hotbed. 



Steam will begin to rise from the pile in from three 

 to five days. As soon as it appears have it well worked 

 over, turning the outside inside and bringing the inside 

 to the surface — then let it alone to warm up again. 

 This will take two or three days more — the presence 

 of the steam will indicate that it is ready, when the 

 work may proceed. 



Spread the manure evenly over an area large 

 enough to give a full two-foot margin all around outside 

 the sash or sashes. Make it i8 inches deep — this for 

 the latitude of New York City; have it proportionately 

 deeper and broader in colder locaKties — and pack it 

 firmly. On this flat pile set the frame to carry the sash. 



This frame is a bottomless and topless box made 

 of two-inch planks; it should slope on top from a 

 height of about 12 inches at the front to 18 or 24 inches 

 at the back, with the sides slanted to conform to the 

 slope. Its ground dimensions are regulated by the 



137 



