chap, ii.] MAKING HOTBEDS. 39 
The first of these, which is by far the most 
general, consists partly of horse-dung, and 
partly of what gardeners call long litter, that 
is, straw moistened and discoloured, but not 
decayed. The manure is generally in this 
state, when it is purchased, or taken from 
the stable, for the purpose of making a hot¬ 
bed. 
" The necessary quantity of manure is pro¬ 
cured at the rate of one cart load, or from 
twelve to fifteen large wheel-barrowfuls to 
every light, as the gardeners call the sashes 
of the frames, each light being about three 
feet wdde; and this manure is laid in a heap to 
ferment. The heap should then be covered 
with earth to receive the gases evolved dur¬ 
ing fermentation, and earth laid round it to 
absorb the liquid manure that may drain 
from it. In about a week the earth may be 
removed, and the manure turned over with 
a dung-fork, and well shaken together; this 
operation being repeated two or three or 
more times, at intervals of two or three days, 
till the whole mass is become of one colour, 
and the straws are sufficiently decomposed to 
he torn to pieces with the fork. 
