Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-01-31
HOT,BED FRAMEs-GET THEFT READY

There are some luxuries which every farmer
ought to enjoy, and which they can if they will
During u visit to Ypsilanti last spring Mrs. John
Starkweather showed us n bot-bed and frame
which she had managed herself, and derived a
great deal of satisfaction from its productions,
and her experience was such that we think
others may well try it, getting their minor halls
to prepare the bed and make the frame. The
frame itself was made of common inch stuff nail
ed together, the long way being about four or five
feet. This frame was not covered with glass. hnt,
instead, the sash was a rough frame, on which
was stretched common coarse cotton cloth. Dur
ing the coolest weather and at night this had a fur
Their protection of old mating or carpet. Under
such a frame were grown radishes, lettuce, onions,
and young cabbage plants. Tomato plants, Gu
cumbers, end melons were started so that they
were fit for use at least a month or six weeks be-
fore those grown in the open ground.
The making Of a hot-bed is a simple operation,
which need not take one over half a day, at q time
when other work is light, and there is plenty of
leisure and when there are young people in the
family, it is an employment which may be made
useful, instructive and agreeable, as we hope to
prove by-and-bye. We refer to it ct this time,
merely because during this month the frames may
90 prepared, and where glass cannot readily be
be had, the sashes may be made at home, by any
ono that is handy with the commonest tools. The
outside should be of stout two-inch stuff, and three
inches in width. These frames should be long
enough to reach from back to front of the large
box frame tnat ID placeu upon Tue DOt-Deui CnQ
three feet in width. Three of them will cover a
bediten feet long, and four will cover a bed of thir-
teen feet in length. If the bed is six feet across,
n strong cross bar should be sunk into the sides
like the cross bar of a sash, and from this cross
bar slips may be made 10 roach either end. The
frame is then ready for cloth covering, and the fol,
lowing preparation will be found an excellent sub
stitute for glass. Take good white cotton cloth, of
, a thick, close texture, and stretch it On these
frames. Two yards of yard vide stuff will cover
each, and that is why they should be made three
feet in width. 1t may be fastened on with COM
mon tacks. This done, give the cloth two or three
coats of paint made as follows: Take two ounces
of lime water, four ounces of linseed oil, and mix
them we'll in any vessel in which they may be
} heated gently over a slow fire then take the
whites of two eggs and the yolks of three, and mix
them with the cooled lime water and oil. This
7 varnish or paint may then be spread over the cot
' ton cloth, with a paint brush. 1t will be found
that three coats will render the cloth water proof.
Each coat should be allowed to dry thoroughly be.
t fore the next is applied. This preparation is great
: " used in Germany, and it is found superior to
glass in SEINE respects. In the first place il is
much cheaper next. it is less liable to injury, and
E repairs can easily be made, and again, the frames
are light to handle, being of such q weight that a
0 girl of ten years old can readily lift them of and
I on, But still another advantage is, that under
these coverings plants grow more ~healthily than
d under glass, not being so liable to be scorched, OF
u made to spindle by the heat and light from the
e sun ami the moisture sent up by the bottom heat
is more readily retained in the bed, this covering
~afording enough light, but light combined with
shade, a matter of some Importance, as every gard
II ner well knows how watchful he must be of the
$ tender young plants, Ito give them protection from
a the strong sun light, as well as from the intense
cold.
r The work of getting ready such frames may be
done during this month or the early part of next
and preparations may be made for beds 6 feet il
9 width, and 6, 9 or IL feet in length, or of such sig,
as may be thought most convenient.
The box for the frame may be made 3 or 81 fee
p high at the back, and two to two and a half fee
t in front; its other dimensions will be governed b,
d the design of the maker. Some ~gariners max,
e these boxes of much less depth, but wo like a gooc
depth of soil, aid plenty of breathing room 70
the plants, and This will be afforded by the siz'
g we have named.-Mchigan Farmer.