Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-03-07
Hon To NM No Mot Red

How To MAKE the HotBcd
Assuming that the old fashioned way
of max ug the hot-hed with fermenting
material obtained from the stable is salts
factory, we will now follow mp the ques
ton by stating how IL is done The
market gardner generally has an immen SO
quantity them together, which are in
rows, with four or five feet between, for
ease of work aud attention. The great
number has helpful tendency, In that
a somewhat less body of manure will
answer them if only a pair of lights is TO
be provided for.
The location for hot.bed should be
on dry ground, aud protected naturally,
or otherwise from the open sweep of the
vest OF north winds. often such spot
can he obtained 10y the shelter OF out
buildings If not, fence should be built
If there is no fear of surface water set
Ting in the space, il ia just as we'll to
take ont about eighteen inches of the
soil, which If spread around the opening
will give depth of a couple of feet be-
low the surrounding soil. The advantage
of this is that the wind cannot blow
through that much however cold il is.
With everything ready up to this point,
the next thing ia TO build up the bed.
The work OF my boyhoOd in this matter
was spent where such things are very
perfectly done, and had to be, because,
even IN the depth of winter, oucumbers
and melons were growing in a common
manure hot bed, AS finely AZ though Il
were summer weather out-of doors. OF
course 1t could not be done with our kind
of winters yet nevertheless, one had to
provide for ten or twenty degrees of frost
at any time.
All that Is wanted for our purpose, is TO
we'll break up the Jumps by shaking with
the fork, and have, when done, h uniform
mass. An old hand Gt IL WILL az each
forkful is put in its place, deftly press IL
in shape, but p beginner can hardly be
expected to do this. The best way for
him is to break up the Jumps and spread
in las ers as evenly rs he can, and then
tread evenly and carefully together. The
reason for this is, that by being moder
ately pressed, the heat lasts longer. For
example, when very loosely thrown to
gether, heat is very rapid and soon over
moderately pressed, IL il enough for the
occasion, while IL might be so compressed
as to afford scarcely any heat for the
want of oxygen 20 feed the fire.
Af.er the manure il all in place, the
next thing Is TO place on the box and
sash. How IL looks 60 those who are
beginners IA the business, except IT il
shown by plants which are not Jet ready
and without banking up OF manure al
the sides OF the box, which is necessary
Co keep off the cold winds from the wood
work, and from the plants next TO IL on
the inside.
The next thing to do ia TO place il in
the soil. II the manure was heating when
be.uP built, this may be put in at once
il n, Z, then better wait until the heat has
shown itself, else, in a cold spellI il Is
sometimes difficult to get 1t started. Six
inches OF good garden soil-better If
from old hot-b bed material in parts all
that il required. A trying stick should
be kept thrust into the bed. II comfort
ably warm on being pulled out all IL
ready for operations. Firm down tn,
soil and SOW the seed or plant ont partly
grown plants, rs the case may be. II
there is one part that is intended to raise
seedlirg in hoYea. or to root cuttingA of
bedding plants, then sand is better toan
anything, a. it keeps drier and the beat
acts more readily, or the cuttings may be
set directly into the sand. Those who
have followed our previous articles will
have had particulars Of what can be
raised 10 THE hut-bed Of ours.