38 
MAKING HOTBEDS. [chap. n. 
in trenching, has a tendency to lighten the 
soil. To dilute liquid manure from a dung¬ 
hill with water, before applying it to grow¬ 
ing plants; as otherwise, from the quantity 
of ammonia that it contains it will be apt to 
burn them. To cover and surround dung¬ 
hills with earth during the process of fer¬ 
mentation, to absorb the nutritious gases, 
that would otherwise escape. To remember 
that the manure of cows and all animals that 
chew the cud, is cold and suited to a light 
soil; and that the manure of horses, pigs, 
and poultry is hot and suited to a firm soil: 
also that all manure, when well rotten, be¬ 
comes cold in its nature, and should be 
treated accordingly. To remember that all 
mixed soils are more fertile than soils con¬ 
sisting only of one of the three primitive 
earths, viz. lime, sand, or clay; and never 
to forget that too much manure is quite as 
injurious to plants as too little. 
Formation of hotbeds .—Though nearly all 
the kinds of manure which have been enu¬ 
merated may be used occasionally for hotbeds, 
the only materials in common use in gardens, 
are stable manure, dead leaves, and tan. 
