The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-04-07
TONATUM.
Aow 80 Start Them Early and: Bring Them to
Maturity in This Cliialss.

How 80 Start Them Early and Bring Them to
hatul1ty in This Cliia.sss.
From the New York Tribune -
Any time from the middle to the end Of
March is a good time in this latitude OF a
little later farther aotth to start the plants
The E-st thing to be done is to make the
hotbod Take any sash that may be on
hand common window sash is as good
as any--2n>a make frame lifting It as close
~ as possi6Ia, fourteen inches high at tho
front. and two or thee inches higher at
the back. Select some sunny spot, at tho
south sida of fence or building and there
make frams Of rough boards, like fence,
TO hold the manure IN place, three snda
half fes: high, and q ootahigher all around
than tina sash frame. Fill this frame viii,
horse manure that is beginning TO heat.
Heading it solid, to the height Of two and
ahalf feet. Upon this plaee the sash frame,
and bank mp the outside with manure to
the top. Put On the sash; let the manure
heat for day or two, and then put in sir
II tho grou> 4 should be covered with
enow, the snow naay b. shoyaled off, and
tho soil taken up in chunks with pick or
crowba-, and put in the frame, whore it will
soSn thaw. When the soil feels warm SOW
Che seed, three quarters OF m inch deep, in
drills running from front to back, twoinch-
es apart. Cover the sash at night with
piece Of old carpet or horscbla.lket; II the
nights should be very cold perhaps more
than one thickness CT the covering mey be
necessary. The plants will probably come
up within two weeks. They should be
thinned to an inch apart in the VOWS, va
tered whenever the ground appears dry. and
aired whenever possible to keep them from
growing spindling The sash, however,
should not be raised before an hour after
tho covering hns been taken off in the morn
ing. It good plan to keepa thermometer
in the bed against the south side Of the
frame. where the sun will not shine upon it,
and where it may be seen by looking through
the glass. The sash may be raised very
little in cold weather, The temperature
ought not TO be allowed to 70 below 600.
As the weather grows warmer, more air may
be given tho plants, until it becomes warm
enough to allow the sash to be removed en-
tirely during tho day.
After the plants have begun to show their
second leaves. draw knife half way be-
: tween the rows, two or three times week
deep enough to cut Off any roots that may
reach that fur; this will make the plants
grow stocky. When the plants arc three
inches high, transplant them into moder-
ate hot-bed CT a coldframe. Or, il more
convenient, new soil may be put in the old
frame and as many plants as it will contain
set back in it, four inches apart each way.
After the plants start new roots, draw the
knife often between them both ways, until
they are ready to be set out. The plants
by this time will be low and stocky, and
will have all their roots in a space four
inches square, so that when taken up care
fully the net work or roots will hold nearly
all the soil upon them: A piece Of Single
eight inches long, four inches wide at one
end, and narrowed at the other to 1T the
hand, is very good instrument TO take up
the plants. After the first two are taken
out the others may be lifted out with this
very nicely. Make holes for the plants
four feet apart. and work into the soil