The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1874-02-26
fer the farmer.
H0T.RED8.


As the time is approaching for these things,
1t may be in order TO describe the mod IS operan,
di. We have seen various modes with varied
success, but the plan'we propose here has always
proved success. Many think it can all be ar
ranged in q day, which Is great mistake, as the
preparations must be made long before seed
sowing time comes. By the time this comes he
/ fore oar readers it will be high time TO COM
mence in this latitude. If the manure is fresh
| from the stable, aud large quantity Is wan
ted for extensive beds, 1t should be prepared at
least three weeks previous to. putting mp; II on
/ 3 small scale two weeks will do. The manure
should be thrown into heap In some sheltered
place, and If the weather he very cold It must De
| protected with boards, corn fodder or something
to keep 1t from freezing, or it will only ferment
| In the inner part of the heap, the main object
being to have It evenly fermented, as upon TINS
! depends much of the success. When IN this
| condition o week. fork IL over, being careful TO
have it we'll shaken apart aud hesPed up again.
| In ten days thereafter repeat the operation. In
/ q week or ten days It Is fit TO set mp ready for
| the frame or glass. Select dry place where wa
ter cannot stand and if sheltered from the north
! and northwestern winds, il will be great adj
vantage. Measure of the space eighteen inches
| longer and wider than your frames; then shake
| up the manure on this space evenly, and pat IL
] down with the fork, but do not get on It with
! your feet as Is sometimes recommended. If any
part Of your heap has fire fanged or burned dry
it must be wet With water, unless some of the
manure Is very wet, when mixing the two will
answer. The bed should be two and q half to
three feet high, according to the length of tine
you wish bottom heat, as the higher the manure
the longer il will last. The frame should be
about eight or ten inches higher on the north
side than in front; when the frame Is on, put in
sbout FIVE or six inches of your mellow soil well
mixed with perfectly decomposed manure, and
" some leaf mold and little sand is mixed among
IL, so much the better.
From the middle of February on to early in
March, will be good time to start early vet eta
bles and plants. As rs the ground is put
on the manure, you can put the glass In place,
and when the ground becomes warm the seed
can be sown. Keep the temperature from about
70o to 300 making sure TO give air on bright sun
shiny days, and close up tight by night, and if
very cold, throw mats of old carpet over the
glass. When watering becomes necessary, use
water Just the same temperature the soil is in
the bed. 1t is very necessary to have the sash
tight, as leak that will let snow-water drip
through may spoil quite lot of plants. In such
bed, one can start early cabbage, Tomatoes,
egg plant, etc, and if few early radshes are
desirable, they can be sown as also lettuce,
which will be ready for the table by tho time
outdoor planting can be done. The plants will
be ready TO set out az soon as the weather will
permit, and they will be several weeks ahead of
the outdoor planting. One of the most impor-
tant things is give plenty of air when the wealth
or gets warm, and take the sash off entire for a
few days before setting out the plants; this will
be thought great trouble; but it ia also plea
sure, besides the advantage of having early vege-
tables. One thing more, don't SOW your seeds
too thick In the bed and If found to be too thick
when week old, thin out-one good plant is
worth half dozen long, spiudling ones.-S. MIL
Ter, tn Raral World