The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-03-20
Kitchen Garden.


Preparation and forwarding are the order
here. Every one likes to be just little
ahead Of his neighbors with early crops,
and if one markets his produce, it is we'll
known that few days in earliness makes
a great difference in the receipts.
Hot-beds are of great use in getting early
seedlings, and there is scarcely any subject
concerning which we have more letters of in
quiry. The requisites for making a hot
bed are boards, glazed sashes, manure in a
state of active fermentation, and supply
of light, rich soil. The old way of making
manure stack on top of the ground and
putting frame over it, is well nigh aban-
doned. 1t is more economical of manure
and other materials to make an excava-
ton. All the operations depend upon the
size of the sashes. Six feet by three is the
regular size, but any other will do. Sc
lect a we'll drained place, facing to the
south, and sheltered by fence, building,
or hedge, from prevailing cold winds; make
an excavation two feet deep, of a width
and length to accommodate the sash. Drive
down stakes, and board up the pit, having
the boards at the rear 1S inches, and those
at the front 12 inches above the surface
The manure to be used should be in state
of active fermentation-a condition which
may be secured by turning over stable ma
nure two or three times, at intervals of
few days, according to the temperature,
watering it if it becomes dry. A good rule
is to form the manure i'll compact, conical
heap, and when it Smokes" turn it over.
Fill the trench with fermenting manure,
pack or tread it rather firmly, cover it with
it with six inches of light, rich soil, and
put the sashas in place. Put thermome-
ter in the soil, and when the heat declines
from 100 deg, the sowing may be DONE
Sow Tomatoes, Egg Plant, Peppers, Early
Cabbages, ETC., in rows four inches apart.
The soil covering the seeds must be both
rich and light. Where plants are forward
ed to the best advantage, mildcr bed is in
readiness, to which the plants are trans
plant, when large enough to handle.
Cold Frames properly arranged, are near
ly as quick as hot beds. Place frame
covered with sash over we'll prepared soil.
Let it well be exposed to the sun during
the day, but before its heat declines in the
afternoon, cover the sash with mats In
this way, a patch of warm soil will be Sc
cured, in which seeds will terminate rapid
ly. Airing and other care must be OBJ
served, as for hot beds.
Preparation of the soil must be pushed as
fast as its condition will allow. Use all
abundance Of manure, spade or pillow deep
ly.
Sods are most admirable for hot-bed work
Lay good bit of pasture sod, grass side
down, and cut it into pieces three inches
square. Plant in the soil of these pieces
seeds Of such plants as do not bear trans
planting kindly-cucumbers, squashes, and
the whole Of that family, corn, and even
early potatoes. Put these sods in the hot
bed, or cold frame; the young plants will
fairly revel in the fresh earth, and at trans
planting time the sod can be placed out
without disturbance of the roots.
Hindoao Boxes are to be commended to
those who operate on small scale. A box
four inches deep, filled with light, rich soil,
and placed in sunny kitchen window, will
afford early plants for the family garden.
Have similar box in reserve for the young
plants when they need transplanting.
Ca6ages and Caulifo,cers that have been
wintered over in cold frames may now be
fully exposed.
Roots.--Dig parsnips and satisfy before
any growth commences.
asparagus and RhuJarJ Beds, that have
been covered during the winter, may have
the coarse manure removed, and the finer
portions forked III.
Peas.-Sow for early crop, putting the
seed at least three or four inches deep
Try the dwarfs.
Potatoss.-Plant early sorts; it is best to
have some litter at hand, to draw over in
case of frost.
Onions.-Potato and top onions, as we'll
as sets are to be put in as soon as the soil
can be worked. Plant or inches apart.
in rows foot destant.
Seed Raising.-All roots saved to produce
seed should be set out early. In warm and
dry soils, this may be done this month
Soil may be drawn towards them, to pro-
tect them from frosts, which is to be re-
moved after danger is over.
Hardy Vegetables include carrots, beets,
spinach, satisfy, onions, leak, early turnips,
ETC.; these may be sown for the first crop
whenever the soil and season will allow
Sow in rows fifteen inches apart. Cress
and lettuce may be put twelve inches apart.
Radishes may be sown broadcast with
beets, ETC., on have a bed by themselves.
american Agriculurist.