Hotbeds
These are composed of fermenting material, prepared for supplying heat to plants, either in frames or houses. They are also sometimes used for encouraging growth in tender plants or seedlings in the open air. When properly managed, Hotbeds are extremely useful, especially in spring, in supplying a moist, genial heat for propagating and growing-on all sorts of soft-wooded plants. Cuttings of the various bedding plants required in quantities emit roots and grow much faster on a Hotbed than when placed where there is only fire heat. In preparing fermenting material of the best quality, fresh stable litter should be secured and thoroughly mixed with an equal portion, or a larger quantity, of newly-collected leaves. If any part is dry, it should be well watered when mixing, and the whole heap turned over every alternate day for about a week. By this time, it will be ready for forming a Hotbed, by building a heap the shape of the frames to be used, and allowing an extra width of 3ft. all round; or for placing inside any permanent pit of sufficient depth. It is important that the whole should be firmly and evenly trodden, to insure against any one part settling together closer than another, and for securing a uniform heat throughout. All rank steam should be allowed to pass off before any plants are placed inside the frames, and shading should be applied during sunshine, if there is a danger of steam being present. It is well to allow a little ventilation at the top of the frames or pits, night and day, for a short time after beds are newly made up. Hotbeds made up on the surface of the ground, for propagating purposes, should not be less than 3ft. or 4ft. in thickness, apart from the necessary filling up of the frame with similar material. Stable litter, by itself, heats much too violently, and does not last long; when mixed with a good proportion of leaves, the heating properties are somewhat slower, but of a lasting description, and, consequently, much better suited to the requirements of plants. A layer of ashes or cocoanut fibre, placed over the surface, is extremely useful for plunging small pots.