Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1857-03-06
THE FARM
The Gurllcn...Ihe Orchard.
Communicated for the Lewisburg Chronicle.
Construction of Hot Beds.
(Cnntinue1.)

Construction of Hot Beds.
(contnued)
In choosing a place for the bed, it il
important TO secure two points, first tt
havo it sheltered from the north and west
winds, and secondly, beyond the reach OF
standing water On the south side of an
building or close and high fence, therefore
is a good place, if dry. If water stands
in the ground during the spring season
within two feet from the surface, provision
must be made to drain it of, or success
can not be depended on.
Having determined on the spot, act your
frame down there, and marx the surface
accurately around the outside Of it to give
you the dimensions Of the hole. Then
remove the frame and dig ou. clean to the
depth Of at least two feet.
Next take the dung (supposing it to
have been previously well turned over and
mixed, aud now showing some heaD and
place it carefully on the hole. Shake each
forkful thoroughly SO as to leave no large
Jumps, and take pains to keep the surface
of an even height. 1t is best to press it
slightly down as you proceed, particularly
about the edges where the weight of the
box will rest, but if it is Gyhty packed,
this will tend rather to prevent the desired
heat. When you have filled up fairly to
the surface Of the ground, or a little above,
leave the surface as level as possible, set
your frame over it, put on the sash, and
shut all up tight.
In about two days, if the dung was
right, the mass will have become conside-
rably hot, so that on moving the sash,
steam will issue freely. Then, and not
till then, put on the soil, which should be
of good quality, and, if possible,
not greatly saturated with moi.-
ture. For ordinary purposes, about six
inches deep will suffice, but for radishes i.
ought to be nearly or quite foot Allow
two or three days for the earth to become
warmed through, and then, unless it is too
hot, SO as to be uncomfortable to the hand
at little depth, you may plant the seed.
First, stir the soil with the hands 70 destroy
the terminating weeds, tncn ,..-L l-.,i-
os suitable depth about an inch and half
apart across the bed. In these, SOW to-
ma,oes, early York cabbages, peppers,
few radishes, &c, and as each drill will
hold at least fifty plants when properly
thinned out, until they are large enough to
transplant, it is evident that a considera-
ble part of the bed will be left for starting,
at later period, cucumbers, melons, Lima
beans, &c Should it be desired to raise
egg plants, it would be best to put sepa-
rate frame on the bed inside large enough
to be covered by two or three lights of
glass, and SOW them under there, for they
will not grow without degree and constan-
ey of hea. in their early stages which would
kill the other plants. The great want Of
these latter, when once started, and even,
in fact, before they are up, is fresh air,
which should be given at least for little
while in the middle of the day, whenever
it is not cold enough to freeze. Raise the
sash at top or bottom, as may best guard
against the winds; when the sun shines
warm, shove them off more or less, and
remember that, with the exception of the
egg plant, ninety-nin hundrodths of all
the difficulty of raising hot bed plants is
from the want of sufficient air
Coon WIgE-Tp the eighty fnurtb