TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 225, 23 September 1898, Page 3

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Making riot. Bnd and Compose Heap (Constant Reader).—The host way tt> niake a hot bed is to obtain a. few loads of hot fermenting horse manure. •This should bo built up in a squure Heap sufficiently large to give a clear margin oi: one fool outside of the frame which is to be placed on the top of it. While the heap is being built, grans, leaves, or any decaying yegeuible matter can be mixed up in it. Jho heap should be made up. in layers, and ea cli layer firmly trodden down. Tiiis will ensure of a more steady, regular heat, and will last for a longer period. When the heap 1m completed place the frame on top Inside the frame place about four inches of good -soil. The bed then should be allowed to remain unused until the hrst Hush of the heat is expended. Afterwards, when the heat is reduced to about 60 de,g-., the sashes can be put on and the bed used. Care must be taken to give air during- the day, and lo close up at night, so as to keep the heat as regular as possible. In our climate there is a little use for a hot bed, as all ordinary early spring- seed or Plant growing can e;lsi | y ))c (]ono jn & c:ola frame. If you require a compost for potting, the best you can make UP, is to get the surface soil from - old pasture. Lift this about throe iour inches deep, and place in a heap with plenty of stable manure, and allow to stand for about 12 months, when it will do for most subjects. If you only mean a compost heap for manuring the garden any vegetable ma tier which will rot easily should be mixed up in a heap with plenty of fresh manure. This will ferment and in about lour months will make splendid manure for either flowers or vegetables.

Good crops of peas are often lost through the want of proper staking. This is work that should receive attention when the plants are only a few inches high, and just as they' begin to show the tendrils. The stakes should be thoroughly sharpened to admit of their being firmly inserted m the ground; and, as neatness should always be observed in the garden, the stakes used should as near as possible be the same height as the variety of pea is likely to obtain. Tall stakes supporting dwarf peas look entirely out of place, while, on the other hand, if short stakes are used for tall-grow-ing peas the consequence is that "when they reach the top they double over on themselves and a great portion of the crop is lost.