American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1869-01-23
HOT BEDS.
Directions for Constructing and Man.
aslng theHI.

ment of the garden. 1t may be uset
ether for the kitchen garden to raise
early plants, such rs cabbages, csuli
flowers, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers
melons, herbs, &C., 50 that one may
have them ready for planting by the
time that others are only beginning to
SOW The seed; or for the flower garden,
for the raising Of choice and tender an
nuals. so as TO enjoy their blooming
season the longer, and at the same time
to insure the seeds to grow the better.
In every case it will be found great ad-
vantage to the common practice OF SOW
ing in the open ground for certain and
generally the most valuable varieties.
There are great many plants, both
Ornamental and useful, which require
some extra care and attention in the
earlier stages Of their grotcth, and the
hot.bed is particularly adapted to create
and-by the judicious admission or ex
cIusion Of the open alr--to regulate the
proper atmosphere which the open air
may not afford them with so much GER
tainty; our spring climate often being
very changeable, and consequently I'M
favorable for the termination Of seeds OF
a tender character.
For these reasons particularly, and
because Of the destruction caused by un>
expected late frosts or droughts, we
would strongly recommend to every one,
having convenience for it, to put up a
hot.bed early in the spring, say about
the mid lie of January. All that is re,
uuirel is one or two glazed window
sashes. rough box or frame, without
TOD or bottom, and one or two cart loads
of stable dung. 1t can be constructed
by any handy man at very small cost.
The size and length of it being OF no
consequence, may be regulated accord
ing to the material on hand. The
following is the size generally adopted by
gardeners. The advantage of frame
of the size described Is, that the packed
dung retains the heat longer than that
Of a small sized one.
The frame is generally six feet wide
f..t lt,Drr aroorpi,rr 4
the supply Of vegetables and flowers re.
quired. 1t is made Of rough boards
tightly joined, about 8 inches high il
front, and about "a inches high at the
back, the sides fitted SO as 10 form q
gradual slope.
The position Of the hot.bed should be
chosen so AS to have it in sight as much
as possible, all day, the lower side Of the
frame should stand dur south, or south
east.
The raw manure from the stable
should FIRST undergo short fermenta'
ton. For this purpose certain degree
Of moisture and air in the fermeuting
bodies are requisite; and hence they re
quire to be turned over frequently with
fork, and a supply Of warm water
given when the process appears retarded
for want Of il, or water and rain ex.
cluded, when fermentation is too languic
10 consequence Of a chill state Of The
/, mass. Recent stable dung generally re-
ouires to lie a month in ridges or beds
and to be turned over in that time thrice
before it is 1T for beds Of the common
construction. The dung being thu
prepared, it must be loosely shaken out
and spread evenly with fork, so as tC
form square heap. projecting about
inches on every side Of the frame. The
heep may be gradually raised iu tbi:
manner Two and half to three feel
high, the surface as much as possible
smoothed and carefully levelled. The
frame is then placed on it with the
sashes. 10 this state it should remain
few days, keeping the sashes slightly
raised by slipping thin pieces Of wood
under them, in order to allow the vspor
arising in the course of the process oil
, fermenting in the dung to escape. Some
, light leaf mould. mixed with rich sifted
yarden ccmpU1, WINE
ksnt under cover all winter F" 'he"
,,tsr snread over the manure INSIDE o
II. f,am. TO 6 or 10 inches within th'
, upper edge Of the front frame ooata
raked smooth and level. Unless 'O'
coil has been warmed previous to oe'hs
m, in the bed, il must he lett again
day or two to allow 1t 10 warm Oe'0''
. the seed is sowu.
the management Of the ho''oeo q
% this stage Of completion begins to g'' 10
short time more difficult, on sccount 0
a the close attention it requires uuul I'd
+, ulsuts are high enough Tor sIPo'ure
The omen sir. The rays Of the sun con
..n,ra,ed on the surface Of the gla'
together with the heat produced iro'
ID below BY the fermen'iug dung WOul
in naturally create Sn excessive beat
,f consequences Of which seeds soWn IN u
Va beds might burn up and be destroyed
ful a short time, if provisions we're not ma
the agains, thi, accident. bJ covering eve
see osr, Of the sash. when The midday .
ess is out (ssy from II An. VII r :
ala With canvass. and seeuriOgh 70 =,
/, If 40 that the wind ~iII not IFS g
re !, necessity Of strict 9
Il ocunot BE- too siIOayi