The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1875-04-02
AGRlcULrURAL.

FORCING Nn0HrABra PfANTs.-lt is time
70 make preparations for starting early veg-
etable plants. In the more Northern
States the season is none too long for the
maturing Of many Of our most valuable
kinds Of annual fruits and vegetables, and
II one desires the enjoyment Of these, ex-
tended several weeks or months, It becomes
necessary to start the plants quite early in
Spring. The most general method Of do
ing this is that of forcing in hot-beds.
These should be located on dry ground,
and if against the south side of a building
or tight board fence, greater heat Will be
secured and a more equable temperature
can be preserved than in more exposed sit
uations. The method of preparing a
hot-bed may be briefly described as follows-
The first thing to be secured is the re-
quisite numler of glazed sash, the usual
size being three feet wide by six long,
The glass used may be six inches wide and
eight to twelve long, or larger, but small
sizes are less expensive and not so liable to
breakage, The bars upon which the glass
rests run lengthwise of the sash. there be-
ing no crossbars, as in common window
sash, but the glass overlap somewhat like
the shingles on a roof. This not only adds
to the strength, but insures the shedding
Of water which falls upon it. Fresh horse
manure is the material most generally en-
ployed for generating heat, and this should
be secured some time before it is desired
for use. That which is taken fresh from
the stable, from day to day, is best, and it
should be put under cover, or, if left out,
placed in conical heaps in order to prevent
being soaked with water, which win prevent
rapid fermentation, so necessaryto the gen
Grafton of heat.
II leaves can be had, these may be mixed
in with the manure, and the entire heap
forked over occasionally in order to secure
a homogeneous mass. If the beds are to be
located on dry, porous soil, where there will
be no danger of water remaining in any ex- |
cavations made, then pit a foot or two in
depth may be made of the size proposed for
the not beds, and the manure thrown in at
the proper time, otherwiseiti is best to make
the bed on the surface.
Frames should be made Of plank, and as
wide as the sash are long, and of a length
to correspond with the number Of sash to
be employed. A handy frame is one that
will hold the sash---say nine feet or little
over in length, with blocks nailed in the
corners to hold the plank firmly in place.
The front plank may be about six or eight
inches wide, and the back one twelve to
fourteen. M
This will give the sash the necessary an
gle to insure the passing off of the water
which may fall upon them.
When all these preparations have been
made the manure may be put in place,
carefully spreading it in layers, pressing it
down gently with the back of fork or a
spade, but not treading upon it with the
feet. The manure should not be less than
eighteen inches in depth to secure a good
and prolonged heat, and two feet is stin
better. The manure heap should be lit
tie longer and wider than the frames which
are to be placed upon it when finished. AS
soon as the manure has been placed in po-
sition, set the frames upon it and put on
the sash, closing tightly A quantity Of
good friable and rich soil should be obtain
ed if it has not already been secured, and
kept in readiness for use when required !
The hot-bed should be examined daily, and
as soon as fermentation has raised the tenn
perature to eighty or ninety degrees, soil
to the depth of four to six inches, carefully
pulverized, at this time should be put on
and raked level and smooth. In two or
three days this mass of earth win have be-
came warmed through, after which the
seeds may be sown. ~
From this time forward careful attention
viii be required. If the heat becomes too
strong during the middle Of the day, the
sashes must be raised sufficiently to give air
and lower the temperature. Also water
must be applied when required, and in cold
nights the frames must be covered with
straw mats, old carpets or some similar ma
terials to keep out the frost. pig 3ps
AS the plants advance in size Il may be
necessary to raise the entire frames q few
inches, banking up with fresh manure at
the same time. Also as the transplanting
season approaches, give more air during
the day in order TO harden the plants and
prepare them for removal to the garden
Early cabbages, tomatoes, peppers and
similar plants may be started during Feb
Fuary and March, and it is now none. too
early to begin preparations for the almost
hot-bed.