434 
STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
compost, or soil properly composed, that the seed will germinate 
■without trouble, a proper shade, and last, though not least, the 
how to use the article, as well as the how not to. 
Prepare a rough frame, precisely as you would for a hot-bed; 
though not so high above ground. It should not be more than 
eight inches in front, and one foot two inches in the back, four 
and one-half feet wide, and the desired length to accommodate 
the amount of seed. Place this in a position to face east or 
south-east, and if the sun will not shine on it after mid-day all 
the better; so that you may avoid the strongest of the sun’s 
rays. After placing it in the nearest desired positions possible, 
dig out eighteen inches of the soil, throwing it upon either 
side, with the most upon the back, that it may be used in 
banking up to the frames when all is completed. In the bottom 
of the “pit” place quarry rubbish, or stone broken small for 
the purpose, to the depth of four to six inches, that the drain¬ 
age may be complete. Upon this drainage take sods and place 
them in an inverted position to keep the drainage more perfect, 
by keeping the loose soil from working 'through it, and pre¬ 
venting lessening its full benefit. 
The soil must now be prepared, or if it had been done the 
fall previous, and now reworked, all the better. Black vegeta¬ 
ble-produced soil as a base is the best. This can usually be 
found in the low timber land, or bordering upon streams. To 
this add one-fifth sand, and a sprinkling of thoroughly rotted 
manure; not such as would be applied to wheat or corn field, 
after a slight composting of once turning, but a little from the 
compost mass of three or four years’ turning, and which will 
become part and parcel of the earth itself in appearance when 
once well turned together. In the absence of the vegetable 
loam, any good garden soil may be used, and will answer a 
good purpose. To this, in addition, add one-fifth part well 
rotted chip manure from the wood pile. These must all be 
broken finely, and thoroughly mixed together; no lumps or 
other coarse materials should be allowed to remain. The pit 
may now be filled with the compost at hand to within six inches 
in front, and twelve at the back of the top of the frame. Spat 
