Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-04-16


'asily reaching the middle of the bed from S
he sides when the sashis removed. I made |
nc one last year Of three sashes which an Q
,wered an excellent purpose, and which in 4
some respects differed from any have else
where seen. The expense, exclusive Of the {
sash, was mere triflle, and think every I
farmer who constructs one, should it succeed {
as we'll as mine, will, the first year of its use,
fell himself we'll rewarded for his pains.
The glass that used was the common
seven by nine, and the sash, from outside
to outside, was four and half feet by three
feet. There are no cross bars to the sash,
as in window sash, but the glass is laid in the
sash tapping on each other about half an inch
in the manner Of shingles, that the rain may
run over their sloping surface readily. The
bars of the sash should be made at least one
and half inch, and if three inches they will
be none the worse, as a greater length and
of course capacity will be given the bed, at
a slight addition Of expense. BY making
my sash widel than common, thus gained
nearly two feet in lengh Of my hot-bed,
space sufficient to grow lettuce or radishes
enough for a small family, and the sash is
besids stronger and better every way. The
sash received six panes of glass in length.
Ny hot-bed receptacle or frame, l made
as follows 81 constructed a box Of boards,
three feet high IN front or the side facing the
south, and three feet ten inches on the back
or northern side. Pieces of scantling, placed
in the corners. served to nail the boards upon
and flat stones or blocks were placed under
the corners for it TO rest on. On the top Of
the box four narrow strips Of board, about
eight feet in length, were nailed one at each
end, and the other two at equal distance for
the soshes to lie or slide upon. These pieces
had the same angle Of inclination as the top
of the box, and projecting back some four
feet, the ends rested on scantling well set in
ground, thus supporting the sash when
thrown back, as will be sometimes ncces-
sary to avoid too great heat, or to air and
water the plants. | had so often seen the
glass Of hot-beds shivered, when the sash was
merely laid on without proper security, that
adopted this course. which has proved
entirely successful. TO make place for
this sash to slide, on the top Of the first mar
row board nailed another, a triae thicker
than the sash, but still narrower than the first
board; and on this, but Of the width Of the
under piece, was placed a thin board, thus
making a slide for the sash, but from which
it could not be removed except at the upper
or lower extremity. On the upper side of
. each sash, at each end, screwed a piece of
} leather doubled into a loop which greatly
facilitated sliding, or removing them when
= necessary. When completed, the box was
, about ten feet in length by five feet in width
r For makink hot-bed, horse stable ma
u nure is generally preferred, as its termcnt.
g more equally than any other, and Of course
S retains its heating properties longer.-Othel
S stable manure will do, however, when horse
!, manure can not conveniently be had. Ii
{ making the bed, care must be taken TO pack
n the manure as equally in every part as pos
sible, as, if thrown in carclessy, it will fer.
y. ment and settle unequally, cracking the earth
: and in great degree destroying the value o
c the bed. 1t is customary, after plllng thu
It manure, to let it remain some days before
3 the earth is put upon it; it is supposed tina
c thus quicker fermentation is produced; !
o however, put in my manure and covered
" with rich garden mould the same day, whic
e was about the fourteenth of March. Whe
u put IN, the manure and earth was within eigl
e or ten inches of the top Of the box; tn
10 depth Of earth put in might average ten in
ot ches. The mass however settled SO consid
&c erably before fermentation ceased, that
N shall this year leave less space between tn
lie earth and the glass, since it is well know
that the less this space the greater the hea
lie produced by the sun, and experience ha
lie proved that the settling Of the earth in thu
= case will usually be sufficient to prevent an
IS contact between the plants and the glass
rs which they ought not to reach. height day
IS after making my bed, planted it with sue
); seeds as wished for early use, or for tran
r, planting; but except the tomatoes and cab
e bages, gained nothing by starting my plant
r intended for removal, so soon, since the me
lie Ions, cucumbers, pepcrs. &c. grew SO fas
y and became so large, that when the prope
t, season for transplanting came, removal Wa
N fatal to most of them.
In planting hOt-bed with such things a
is are to be removed, it is good plan to tax
Of pieces of clean turf, some four or five inche
y square, and putting in these in the bed tn
- grass side down, place the seeds on them an
lie cover with fine mould to the depth of one an
,e a half or two inches. The roots Of III
IS young plant spread in the turf, which pal
IS TALLY decays, and if carefully removed, an
st in season, the plant will feel but little inJur
OF from the process.
RS Much of the profit to be derived from
'e hot.bed is depending on having the seet
b. when planted so arranged, that the succc.
r. sve crops shall not interfere with one anotl
IN er, or those intended for removal with tho.
c. that remain. Thus, where there is but
singlehot-bed, the plants Permanenty grow
in them are usually lettuces, radishes, an
cucumbers. 1t takes but few stalks Of Il
as cucumber to fill hot-bed, when the vin'
as begin to run, and these if planted insepara
Of places will not in the least interfere with Il
ar first crops of lettuce or radishes, and thes
We but little, if the space is well managed, wi,
ly the plants intended for removal. Last We;
es used half Of my bed for starting some Gu
it tings of the multicaulis, to make way ft
is which removed part of luxuriant grow,
ng of radishes; yet on this limited space gre
IS, two crops of the finest lettuce, a large sur