The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1858-03-12

Vol. XIv-No. IL.
1arieultural. 4
Hot Beds.


The Boston Cultiyator has an article
which we transfer 10 our columns:
Country people, generally, pay Too little
attention TO supplying themselves with early
vegetables. A hot bed, costing but tribe,
would enable an ordinary family to have
plenty Of lettuce, cabbage, tomatoes, cu-
cunbers, melons, egg.plants, etc., two or
three weeks earlier than they could DO
obtained from open culture only. For this
latitude, this is abou, the right time to make
hot beds. The mode Of making them varies
somewhat, but the following may answer
for common cases:
Horse manure,-which has been Kept in
n heap and turned over and well mixed
together, several days before being placed
in the ,--is the best material. A shelter
ed situation should be chosen-especially
one open to the sun, and screened from the
coolest winds.-If the ground is quite dry,
a pit ten inches or foot deep may be dug,
but il II is wet, tho bed raised by scattering
the manure over il evenly with fork, and
beating il down, in order TO have 1t sutii-
cieGily solid-especially at the outside
where the frame viii! rest. Unless tho
manure is quito wet, II will be best to sprinkle
j, with watering pot as II is laid up. Old
tan-bark is sometimes used in hot beds, with
the manure, as il tends to prevent tho
violence Of the heat and continues It
longer timc.-Whcn the manure is all laid
IN. the frame and sashcs may be laid on,
and remain closed for two or three days to
raise the heat, examining from day to dav
to see what the temperature II. When II
has risen to summer heat, or about 7O
degrees, the vapor should be allowed TO
escape, and the mould for planting the seed
should be thrown on.-Any good rich earth
will do Cor this, but that made from rottcd
sods, mixed with leaves and vegetable matter
from a hardwood forest Is best. II should
be laid over the manure to the depth Of six
inches. In this the seed may be planted,
or they may be planted in pots placed in tho
earth. As TO management, the following
rules, from Schenck's "Gardners Text
Book" may bo observed:
"Keep the sashes covered with boards,
mat or straw, during the cold nights and &C.
we're storm admit the air freely In pleasant
weather, by sliding down the sashcs for an
inch or two, or by raising them up with
wedges at the back part of the frame and
occasionally apply water in moderate guam
titles, after il has been kept in the frame
for at least twelve hours When the bed
is frt made, great care Is necessary to
prevent the plants being injured by extreme
heat, aud at that time the protection Of mats
&c., should be much lighter than Afterwards,
when the danger IL passed. To ascertain
this, the temperature of the bed ought every
A. - frh, ,,,oot rnrrort In
strument for the purpose is thermometer,
but, in the want Of that, u trying stick will
answer very well. II is a smooth lath Of
wood, about two feet long, which Is to bo
thrust into different parts Of the manure,
and then draw out and grasp quickly by the
hand.
Sometimes the heat is found so violent,
that, in addition tn raising the sashes, sew
eral holes must be opened In the pile Of
dung, by means of large stake or crowbar,
in such manner that they can be filled up
with hay or dung when no longer necessary.
The air within the frame should be frequent
" renewed, or the plants will become spindl-
ing. with a sickly, yello~ish color. They
cannot be expected TO grow hardly unless
the steam from tho dung be permitted to es.
cape, and fresh air take It's place. A hot
bed needs ventilation quite as much us
crowded church. The sashes ought to bc
opened in all pleasant weather, by the in
sertiun of wedge-shapcd props, so that tho
glass can DO raised TO any height desired,
according to the heat Of tho bed or tho
temperature of the atmosphere. When
there is n sharp, cutting wind, II will be ad-
visible to hang mat over the opening, in
such way that while the plants will not
suffer fron, the blast, there may be ample
opportunity for the admission Of fresh air.
No effort must be spared to keep the plants
s,ou, and healthy, the stems stroug, and
IL. lAa.,o. Of I'm, frrnnn cnlnr