The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1878-03-14
Early Vegetables.

No farmers garden should be with
out a liberal supply of good vegetables.
Almost every farmer raises few; but
they are too often started late and left
to grow without proper attention. The
idea is to have the plants-especially
of the early cabbage and tomato-well
grown before the season out of doors
begins. Those who are SO situated that
it is inconvenient to obtain supply of
plants from nursery can grow the
plant for themselves, with very little
extra trouble. A good plan is to have
a hot bed, and no farmer but that, with
a little patience, an old window-sash
and few common boards, can make
one. From the middle to the last of
February is the time to start it. The
boards are to be nailed together in the
form of box, from ten to twelve
inches deep, the right size for the sash,
and with the back some six or eight
inches higher than the front. Dig
shallow pit, little smaller than the
frame and about foot deep, setting the
frame over it. Fill in with from twelve
to fifteen inches of horse-manure, free
from long straw, and top off with two
or three inches of garden-soil, made
fine. Sow the seed for cabbage and
tomatoes in rows from six to eight
inches apart, and over the whole put
the sash. When the plants are an inch
or two out of ground, thin out, leaving
some two inches between each plant.
The bed should be kept moist by fire.
quent sprinklings of tepid water. When
the plants have obtained vigorous
growth, it is better to thin again, tax
ing out every other plant. After the
first thinning the plants should have air
daily for an hour or two at midday, by
raising the sash little from one side
Of the frame. By the time the plants
grow high enough to reach the glass
there will probably be no danger from
frost and the sash may be raised up
higher and left so, or entirely removed
from the frame. As soon as the open
ground is in condition the plants should
be set out, not less than six feet apart
each way, for the tomatoes. Water the
plants freely at the time of transplant
ing, then mulch with dry earth, and
they will grow without further water
ing.
By the use of hot-bed lettuce and
radishes can be had weeks earlier than
when grown in the open air; and Gu
cumbers may be started and afterward
transplanted equally as well as toma-
toes or cabbage.
Tomato plants may also be started
in box keptsin room where there is
a steady fire, giving the plants all the
sun possible during the day. Rich
earth is all that is needed for this pur-
rooo II l. L.44--4-~ s.ooP- INC UOA tvv-
cred with glass, to prevent the evapor-
alton of moisture; and the plants should
be. sprinkled with tepid water nearly
every day. 1t is q good plan to trans
plant tomatoes that have been started
in boxes as soon as the plants have the
third leaf. Old fruit-cans, filled with
mold, may be used for this purpose.
The bottom should be punched full of
holes or taken out entirely. The trans
planting should then be continued by
changing from one can to another, as
this has been found to strengthen the
plants As soon as possible give the
plants outdoor air by raising win
dow or putting them out of doors in
the middle Of the day; and firally trans
plant to open ground the same as If
raised in a hot-bed.
: For starting melons and cucumbers
indoors the best pots are small pieces
Of sod, turned grass-side down and
placed upon board. When the sea-
son is warm enough set out sods and
all in the garden, having rich, loamy
yoil, and cover up to the leaves Of the
plants. IN Y. Independent.