The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-02-24
EARLY PLANTS.
Hotbeds-Cuttings-Ear Plowing-Garden
and Farm Notes.

Hotbeds-Cuttings-Ear Plowing-Garden
and Farm Notes.
The hotbed and cold frame should be
made objects of special attention at this
season. The plants require warmth, and
air must also be permitted. Giving them
fresh air at the proper time. and without
injury, is something that requires good
Judgment and close attention. To raise
the sash too early in the morning, or close
it too late in the. afternoon, may check the
plants The outside temperature, the
temperature of the hotbed itself when
closed. and the degree of growth of the
plants, are all to be considered.
For cucumber forcing the side shoots at
the second Joint must be stopped and the
proper fertilization of the fruit blossoms
must be looked after. Air must be given.
but care must be taken that too much cold
does not enter. From 65 10 20 degrees at
night and from 20 TO so degrees during the
day. is the temperature required.
When using manure for hotbeds discard
all litter. Fresh horse manure is best and
it should be well tramped down in the
bed. To hasten the heat moisten the
manue with lime water.
Ii is a labOrious task to apply liquid
manure TO q strawberry patch, but it will
be to an advantage, especially in garden
patch, to select one row Of the plants for
| forcing. This is done by applying liquid
manure two or three times each week
around the plants. Such plants should be
grown in stools rather than in matted
rows. LIQUID manure can be made by
using the urine from the stalls, adding
fresh horse manure and diluting with
water, if necessary.
For early plants fertilizer solution may
be prepared which will be almost a COM
plete food for pot plants, or those requir-
| ing special attention outside. 1t may be
mixed with earth, and used around the
roots also. Take one pound each of phos-
plate of potash, nitrate of soda, and sui
phate of lime. mix well and add table.
spoonful to one quart of water.
Radishes are very hardy. and grow
quickly from seed. For an early supply
SOW the seed in a hotbed or cold frame.
They will be out of the way in a short
time, when something else, such as early
| cabbage, may follow.
The beautiful coleus plants. which are
used for ornamental borders and Tor bed
ding, are produced from slips, but they
are also easily raised from seed. Sow the
seed early, in prepared boxes, In the same
manner as for other plants.
| For cuttings, in order to have them root
early, use burnt clay. This may seem in
appropriate, but in England the clay is
found superior to sand or loan, as it is
said to possess the property of absorbing
ammonia from the atmosphere.
Freezing does not injure onions or onion
sets, provided they are not disturbed. If
kept in the garrett there is less liability of
the odor being perceptible in the house.
which is not the same with the cellar.
Keep them in thin layers and cover them
with an old carpet.
Use wire for fastening grape vines to
posts or ona strip, instead of using strings,
as the strings may rot before the crop
natures and the fruit be injured.
Subsoiling is of advantage 10 some soils,
especially when the drainage is used
/ Experiments made for the purpose of
comparing subsoiling with plot that was
plowed but not SUBSIDIZED, using sorghum
! as crop, demonstrated that the crop was