White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1861-03-21
fir tbt farmer.
The Garden.

How TO xAxI Hor- BEp.-There 10 no
reason Why every farmer should not have hot
bed. He might make the frame himself, and
the sash costs but little. He has plenty of
manure handy, and it is not lost. as il 10 about
AZ good after it has been used as when hrs. put
in the bed. A little daily care is necessary in
the management of the bed, but it need not &C.
copy much time. Then the advantages are
very great, and numerous to mention."
Horse stable manure IL the best material for
making the hot bed. 1t is best to throw it up
into loose heap, and let I; begin 70 heat It,
tie before putting into the bed. In making the
bed, the manure should be all shaken out 6ns,
- It 10 put in. Beat down each layer Of ma
nure as it 10 put in, with the back of the fork,
pressing the outer parts Of the bed the most
Some persons tread do vn the manure In the bed;
but in a small bed for single frame this should
not be done. The more manure 10 pressed, 90
- to exclude the air, the less likely It 10 to fer
nent. If the bed is very large, and it is desi-
rabls to keep It warm for long time, it should
be made more compact. Whom the manure is
put in the bed, il It Is very dry, 1t should be
watsred-the liquid of the stable being the best,
lift can Be obtained. Thsbed should be three
or four feet high, and little larger than the
frame that is to stand upon IL.
It 10 Sometimes recommended to dig hole
for the hot bed, twelve or eighteen inches deep:
but. In this country at least it is better to make
IL on the surface Of the soil. If possible, it
should be in q spot sheltered from the north
and north west.
When the bed is made, place the frame on
TOP and close the sashes-covering them with
mats or loose litter for few days, till the heat
is we'll up. The soil should not be put on till
the bed has fermsntsd q little, and the first
formed gases, which are thought to be injuri
Gus, have escaped. Then put on the earth
light garden soil will answer for this purpose;
and X little we'll deeomposed leaf. mould,
from the woods, can be obtained, it might be
mixed with 1t to advantage. The best way is
to prepare the soil in the fall, and keep 1t IN
der cover all winter. A compost of turfy sods.
leaf-mould, and yard manure, in equal
quantities, mixed the previous summer or fall,
and occasionally turned, makes good soil for
hot-beds. --..
II cucumbers are to be raised, cover the
whole bed. three or four inches deep, with soil,
and then take bushel of earth and put It in
the centre of each sash, making q hill about
nine inches deep. When the earth 10 warmed
through, SOW the seeds Of the cucumbers on the
hill. covering about half an inch deep. fthrse
plants grow in each sash, it will be sufficient.
When the young roots protruds through the
hill, they must be covered with more earth,
which should be placed in the bed till il 10
warmed through before it is put to the tender
roots. Into this bed, with the cueumbsrs, may
be placed boxes filed with earth, in which are
sewn seeds Of tomatoes. celery, purple egg
plant, where they can remain till they are in
the way OF the cucumber vines, when they may
be removed t9 cold frame. to be hardened of
before planting in the open ground. In the |
case of celery, especially, it is best to prick
them out in a cold frame, or in the open ground
10 some warm, sheltered spot. where they can
grow and form stocky plants, before finally set.
ting out in the trenches.