The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1855-03-31
From the Prairie Farmer.


them, we suIjoin directions from the South-
crn Farmer for Il cir treatment The proper |
time to be gin in this latitude, where only |
household gardening is concerned, is the |
middle of March, or thcrcabouts. For mar !
kct gardening the beds are made in January,
ar at any other time in winter Al that one
who merely wishes bed for his own use
can do to m2ci I'd antagc, is to SOW some
lettuce, radislics, and few tomatoes, and
perhaps cabbagcs, or if he will, can for
ward few Towering plants, stocks, phloyes,
and the like.
After describing frame for market gar
dcncrs, he proceeds
"But should you wish Il smaller frame,
good strong box Of the s 2c required, having
the top and bottom knocked out, and the
sides made sloping to the front, which SHOULD
be cut down to half the hcighth Of the back,
so as to allow the rains TO run Oft easily from
the sash which may he common window
sash that will exactly fit the top of the box,
and that is well puttied, and can keep out
the rain.
To MAKE THE HOT BED.--llaying placed
your frame where the bed is to stand, front
it to the south or southeast, take pointed
stick and mark the ground all around the
dig out this space about eighteen inches deep;
this done, replace the frame, which will rest
Immediately on the edge of the pit. Then
procure some stable manure, which ought to
be fresh from the stable, and place it near
Gin heap where you are making the bed,
shake every fork full well to pieces, mixing
the long with the short. And now begin to
make the bed, taking the long and short to-
gcthcr, mix them well, and in such a way
as to suffer no Jumps, putting in the bottom
of the pit; let the bed rise il, all parts to.
gethcr as nearly as possible; that is TO say,
do not put too much in one part at one time,
Beat the whole down with the fork as you
proceed When you have shaken on dung
to the thickness of four or five inches, beat
all over again WELL and so on till the manure
is about nine inches from the top Of the
front of the box; now see that it is quite
level and on the glass. The heat will begin
to rise by the next morning. and by noon of
the second day il will be ready for receiving
the earth.
The earth should be dry; not like dust,
bit not too wet, and should be rich and fres' :,
and the bed should be filed up about SIN
inches deep with it; put on the sashcs, aud
let them remain on twcnty-iour hours, then
take them off and stir the earth well with
your hands; for hands are the only tools
hereafter to be used in the hot bed.
The earth is to be level, not sloping like
the glass. The glass is sloping to meet the
sun and turn of the wet The earth which
was taken out Of the pit should be hauled up
round the outside of the frame, 50 that no
water may be near it; and now your bed is
ready for the seed.
SowING SEED IN THE HOT DED.-Iake oil
the sashes or lights, and make little drills
with your finger from the back Of the bed to
the front make them cquil distant, parallel
and staight; then drop your seeds along the
drill regularly; cover all over neatly and
smoothly, write the names or numbers, and
the date OF the sowings, on small piece 4
paper, put it into the ground put on the
lights, see that they fit well; "and then (says
CobbetD look upon your spring work as
happily begun m
MANAGEMENT OF THE not DED.--The main
principle is to give always rs much air as the
plants will endure: taking advantage Of cv.
cry mild day TO remove the ashes and give
the plants air, even before the seeds begin
to appear. Give air to the bed every day,
unless it is very cold indeed.
The usual way Of giving air, is by bits ol
thick board cut like wedge, broad at one
end and coming to a point ut the other
Each light is lifted up, either at the back OF
front of the frame, as the wind may be, and
the wedge or litter, as it is called, is put &c
hold the light up But if more air be want
ed, raise the lights higher, ard on q fine day
INV lien the H plants are up they VIII soon tel
you about air, for if they have not enough
they will grow up long legged and will hav,
small seed leaves; and indeed if too much
deprived of air will droop and die. Let
them grow stronger rather than tall /; shor,
stems, broad seed leaves, very grccn--thesC
are the signs of good plants and proper man.
agcment. Remember, (says Goblet again
out of 4 thousand failures in hot bed culture,
nine hundred and ninety-nine arise from
giving too little air"
WATERING THE HOT nEp.--When il is nee
essay to water "tako off the sashes one at n
time, and water with n watering pot tina,
does not pour out heavily; water Just a,
sunset and then shut down the lights; the
heat will then rise, and the plants grow pro
digiously."
PROJECTING THE HOT BED.--Should high
winds and very sharp frost set in, protect
your bed with straw or moss, and if colo
northwest wind, make small screen of corn
stalks. Russia mats or old grass bags, o,
an old carpet, should be kept to cover thu
sashcs with in case of hail, snow, or very
cold weather. Should these not be con
vcnient, use straw, hay, or moss.