. Cross-section op a Temporary Hotbrd as in Bulletin No. iq,. Corbett Bureau of Plant Industry, I' S Di n 01 \ (10) A hotbed is a cold frame placed upon a quantity of fermenting manure. The hotbed is usually made ready in February or March in the latitude of Philadelphia. In the preparation of the manure, it is best to collect the requisite amount from the horse stable, and make it into a compact heap, watering it if dry. In a few days active fermentation will be in progress, when the heap should be turned, watering again if necessary, shaking out the lumps. The aim is to induce a
. Cross-section op a Temporary Hotbrd as in Bulletin No. iq,. Corbett Bureau of Plant Industry, I' S Di n 01 \ (10) A hotbed is a cold frame placed upon a quantity of fermenting manure. The hotbed is usually made ready in February or March in the latitude of Philadelphia. In the preparation of the manure, it is best to collect the requisite amount from the horse stable, and make it into a compact heap, watering it if dry. In a few days active fermentation will be in progress, when the heap should be turned, watering again if necessary, shaking out the lumps. The aim is to induce an active and uniform fermentation of the whole mass, and to have it continue for some time after the soil is placed on it. Select a well-drained spot, and make the pile of manure eight or nine feet wide by whatever length is necessary, with a depth of fifteen to eighteen inches; or a foot of soil may be dug out and filled in with manure, well tramped down. Place the frame on it. Then put three or four inches of good soil uni- formly over the surface. Some manure or soil can be thrown up against the outer boards, which will help to hold the heat. Put on the sash and keep tight for three or four days. T here should be a thermom- eter kept in the hot- bed, and when the- temperature falls to 75 degrees, seed may be sown with safety. The temperature in a hot- bed should not be al- lowed to go above 70 degrees in the day, nor below 50 at night. Mr. Wm. Falconer writes the following for US regarding hotbeds: " A hotbed is like a cold frame, except that it is heated with a considerable depth of hot manure under the soil. Seeds may be sown in it in the same way as specified in the case of a cold frame, but it is safer for the amateur to sow in pots, pans or Hats and set these in the hotbed than to sow in the earth bed of the hotbed. While a hotbed is new it is well to always keep a little chink of ventilation on to allow the discharge of ••steam" or ammonia; if not. a damp
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