The Portland daily press., 1879-04-09
AGRICULTURAL.
c--,,--. of vegetables under Glass.

Er.vfm of NGXetaDtbs nnuCE UAbb1s
Mr. W. D. Phllbrick OF Newton Centre de-
liyered very interesting lecture before the
Needham Farmers Club, on the evening of
March IL, on the culture of vegetables under
glass, which was illustrated by diagrams on
the blackboard. Mr.. Phibrick said that
most of the seed catalogues and other like
publications, advised making hotbeds with
manure two feet thick and five or six inches
OF loan on the top; but he considered tor
Winter use one foot of manure sufficient,
as two feet of manure causes too much heat
and would require too much water. lie re-
commepds on the north side board fence
six feet high, as protection from cold winds,
and leaning from the bed, against which the
mats and board could be placed. To make
Winter bed he should commence in Novem-
Der, and when prepared, would cover it with
leaves, litter or straw 10 keep out frost. Ii
these could not be had he would cover with
sash. These he would have pitched five or
six inches to throw off the water. In maxi
ing the bed for immediate use, the hotter the
manure the better, and in two days 1t is
ready for the seed. If the manure is not
more than one foot thick there is no danger
from too much heat
In very cold weather these beds have to be
covered with straw mats, and sometimes
boards in addition, and at times 1t is neces-
sary to lay horse manure on the outside to
prevent the frost from entering the bed. In
raising lettuce in beds OF this kind there are
many difficulties to be overcome, and for
Winter use he prefers the greenhouse, which,
with the position of the beds and the heating
apparatus, he described with diagram. Mr..
Philbrick heats with hot water, which he
says gives the most uniform heat, for large
amount of hot water is long in cooling II the
fires should go out. He finds no trouble in
raising two crops of lettuce in Winter, and is
now marketing his second crop. His water
pipes are four inches in diameter. Lettuce
grows best at temperature of 40 deg. during
the day and As deg at night, but cucumbers
want temperature OF SO and 55 dogs.
There is difficulty IN starting small seeds
in hot bed, as artificial heat underneath and
dry, cold air on the top causes too great
evaporation, which prevents termination
and too much watering produces hard bed,
which the small seeds cannot penetrate. He
beats down his bed hard, and upon this
spreads little leat-mould, upon which the
seed is sown. Then he covers with mat
till the seed terminates. In watering, Mr..
Philbrlck uses water at about so deg, which
he takes from his heating apparatus by at
tachiDg hose to different parts of the pipes,
and in order to force out the water he has a
tank supplied by windmill elevated above
the greenhouse, and the water from this is
let into the bottom of his boiler, the descend
ing pressure of which forces the warm water
out through his hose. He sows for Winter
lettuce the white seed Tennisbal, and for
outdoors the black seed Tennisball.
Hot beds in Spring are preferable to green
houses, because you can throw off the glass
and harden the plants before transpanting
to the open ground. BE considers the Boston
Market the best early tomato, and for late.
crop the Emery. The best early cabbage he
considers the Henderson, and for Ball crop
he thinks the Brunswick is the best.
Mr.. Philbrick gave good deal of very use
full information, such as would be valuable tc
persons not farmers or market gardeners
Persons who are not directly interested il
the culture of crops or the raising and feed
ing of animals, which form subjects fer dis
cussion at the meetings of farmers clubs o.
agricultural societies, think they have no in
terest in these subjects, and they do not con
Germ them, but such persons hardly know
upon what they live.-ReDorter for TIN
American Cultiuator.