March.'] OF FRAMING. 25 
OF FRAMING. 
Where it is desired to have the more showy annuals early 
in bloom, it is necessary to prepare a hot-bed frame, for the 
purpose of bringing them forward. It is time, about the 
first of the month, to collect and prepare manure for the de- 
sired hot-bed ; and, as that operation, in many instances, is 
very imperfectly performed, a few observations on the subject 
may be useful. 
Take three parts of fresh, hot stable manure, with one 
part of fresh oak leaves. Have a sufficient quantity to make 
the intended bed, or beds, from three to four feet high. 
Shake and mix up both together in a compact, conical heap, 
in order to encourage fermentation. If the weather is cold 
and windy, cover it with straw or leaves and boards, which 
is necessary to produce the desired effect. If fermentation 
soon takes place, it will need to be thoroughly turned over 
in eight or ten days. If any of it has become dry and musty 
from excessive heat, as you proceed, water the affected parts, 
pile all up neatly, and leave it protected in part as before. 
In five or six days more, it will have to be turned again, re- 
peating it until the first extreme heat has been over. In 
neglect of this, the heat, after making up the bed, will be 
vehement for a week or two, frequently destroying the vege- 
tative purity of the soil, and proving destructive to the seeds. 
Allowing the manure to come to a lively heat, having no 
unpleasant, rancid smell, proceed to mark off your intended 
bed, running it east and west, as nearly as possible, measure 
your frame, and allow the site of the bed eight inches, each 
way, larger than the frame : at the corners, place a stick or 
rod perpendicularly. The ground ought to be higher than 
that around it, to prevent water from getting into the bed, 
which, if low, must be filled up ; or, if supposed that water 
may lodge there, a little brushwood might be put under the 
manure, which would keep it from being inundated. The 
manure must be built up square and level, shaking, mixing 
and beating it regularly with the back of the fork. When 
you have it to the desired height (from two to three feet 
will be sufficient for annuals), leave the centre of the bed a 
little higher than the sides, thus allowing it more to subside. 
When finished, put on the frame and sash, or sashes, keep 
3 
