34 
THE LADIES’ FLOWER-GARDEN 
therefore, before giving any directions respecting sowing these plants, we shall say a few words on the manner of 
making a hot-bed suitable for raising them. 
To form a iiot-bed. —A hot-bcd is a mass of any fermenting material, that in its decomposition produces a 
degree of heat considerably above that of the atmosphere in which it is placed. There are various matters which 
will answer for this purpose ; some animal, others vegetable, and some even mineral, as for example, certain kinds 
of coal dross, containing pyrites. For gardening purposes, however, the material in general use, not only in 
Britain, but on the Continent of Europe, and in North America, is stable manure. This may be used either alone, 
or mixed with the dung of cows, pigs, or poultry ; or with leaves, grass, straw, or any other readily-decomposed 
vegetable substance ; or with animal matters, such as hairs, the parings of leather, horn shavings, feathers, &c. 
The sweepings of streets, as they generally contain a great variety of vegetable and animal matters, used either 
alone, or mixed with stable manure, will form a very durable hot-bed. In the nursery of Messrs. Wilmot, of 
Lewisham, the sweepings of the streets of the Borough, and of Greenwich, have been used alone for many years, 
as the fermenting material on which melons are grown ; this manure being found to produce a more equable heat, 
and that for a greater length of time, than any other material hitherto tried. Spent tanners’ bark, such as is used 
for growing pines, also forms a very excellent liot-bed, either used alone, or mixed with some of the other sub¬ 
stances mentioned. Fallen leaves, swept together in autumn, and laid in heaps under cover, will ferment with 
or without other materials, and will make a very durable hot-bed ; and the sprays of trees cut off in the summer 
time, with the leaves on, such as the clippings of hedges, will also be a material that may be used with great 
advantage, along with autumnal leaves, or tan. The same may be said of weeds, the refuse of vegetables, pea 
haulm, short grass, &c. 
A general idea may thus be formed by the inexperienced reader, of the materials which may be used in making 
hot-beds ; but as the most common, and that which is generally most easily within the means of the amateur who 
has but a small garden, is stable manure, we shall confine ourselves to giving directions for the management of that 
material. When obtained from the stables in, say a cart-load, which is quite sufficient for a small hot-bed large 
enough for rearing annuals, it consists of two parts, the dung of the horse, and long litter, or in other words, 
straw, moistened and discoloured, but not decayed. When the mass, thus formed, is laid in a heap, it generally 
produces a very powerful heat, too strong for being used as a liot-bed ; for it should never be forgotten that too 
hot a bed is worse for the plants than sowing them in the open air. If the bed be much too hot, the plants will bo 
blackened, and ultimately destroyed ; and even if only a little hotter than is necessary, the plants will be drawn 
up, and become too weak to have any chance of success when afterwards transplanted into the open air. As it is 
the fermentation occasioned by the decomposition of the straw contained in the manure which produces the violent 
heat, the heap should be turned over with a dung-fork two or three times in the course of a fortnight, till the 
decomposition is considerably advanced, the whole mass of one colour, and the straws, which were before tough, 
rendered sufficiently tender to be easily torn to pieces with the dung-fork. When the mass is arrived at this stage, 
it may then be formed into a bed, which may be of any convenient length and breadth, according to the situation 
and other circumstances. 
In general, such a bed is covered with what is called a hot-bed frame. This consists of a box without a 
bottom, and with a moveable top, formed of a glazed sash or sashes. For a small garden, a box three feet wide, 
and four feet from the back to the front, will be sufficient. The back of the box may be two feet high, and the 
