Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1873-05-01
FARM AND
Making a Hot-Bed.

Er
Making a Hot-Bed.
To prepare a hot-bed, a quantity of
fresh stable manure should be well
shaken up in a heap, about the middle
of February or first of March; after re-
naming three days, it should again be
shaken up and turned over n at an
other interval of three days. Let the
manure remain for three or four days
more in the heap, and then form the
bed of any dimensions that may be
requisite according to size and number
of frames used, making the bed about a
foot wider than the frame all around.
The bed, when made, should not be less
than three feet high, the situation for it
should be dry underneath, sheltered
from the north as much as possible, and
fully exposed to the sun. 90"
In makingupthe bed, beat the manure
well down with the fork PlaeeDabout
eight inches sof light, rich soil~in the
frame after it is placed on the bed, SO
that the surface of the soil may be from
six to eight inches sfromthe top of the
frame. After the bed has stood with
the lights on, but raised a few inches to
let the steam escape for a,few days, SOW
the seed of the cabbage, canlifiower,
celery, lettuce, radish, etc. etc. When
the seeds make their appearance above
ground, give some air, day and night, i n
moderate weather, by raising the light
two OF three inches, and as the heat of
the bed diminishes, increase the supply
of air to prevent the plants being drawn,
up. In severe weather the frame and
lights should be covered up, at night
with mats O. straw. In a high wind
protect the side of the bed also in the
same way, or the current of air through
will extinguish the heat of the bed. IF
made early in the season, water only viii
be required when the earth in the frame
becomes quite dry; as the plants in
crease in size the supply of water may
be increased. In frosty or cold weather
the water should be made milk-warm
before, it is used ; this is important.
Seeds of tomato, pepper and eggplant
should not be sown at the same time
with cabbage, caulifower, lettuce, rad
ish, ETC., as they require more heat.
Therefore, they should not be put IL a
hot-bed until the last of March, or until
a bright sun, with milder nights, gives
the proper temperat11re-W to 80 de-
grees. To avoid disappointment, note
the above. .t
t To Housekeepers.
Now that spring has arrived, and
busy housewives are overwhelmed with
the cares of house-cleaning, a few hints
may be appreciable. in taking up your
carpets it is well to rip the center seam.
The carpet may be better shaken in two
pieces ; then turn the outer edges in
ward, sew it carefully, and, if necessary,
tack a border over the outer edges. A
well-worn carpet may be made to look
almost new by this process, simply by a
little ingenuity. Tea grounds, soaked
in alum-water, are invaluable IN clean
ing carpets with a large proportional
green IN the pattern. They should be
sprinkled over the floor, and allowed to
lie for a time, then swept off carefully.
The carpet, after a long service, will
look quite fresh and new after this pro-
cess. Oxgall, too, is a specific in the
cleansing process. By throwing a little
into the soapsuds a carpet may be
secured on the foor'to look fresh and
new. In house-cleaning, system. should
be observed. Begin at the garnet and
go downward. Take q room at a time
and leave behind the trace of perfect
order in each. 1t is not necessary t
create a bedlam or chaos in order that
peace may follow. Even renegation, as
applied to things inanimate, may be
taken in broken doses. more effectively.
Closets and dark corners first arranged,
the rest is easy. The secret lies in being
complete mistress of the situation, know
ing what to do and just -howsto do it.
Short Horns for England.
M. II. Cochrane, Compton, Canada,
the celebrated breeder of short-horn