The Princeton union., 1893-03-16
THE AGRlC G JJLT q Z ii WORLD
HINTS FOR INDUS
Il TRIOUS FARMERS.
Some Suggestions For Starting
T Early Plants -- The Medium Hog
! Consult the Soil -Protec- 85ss
ton Against the Rats
Items of Interest.
4 For Starting EARLY Plan Is.

r5Or SInrt1n& EARLY Plan -. yg&
S If one does not have a propagating
house he need not on that account go
without early plants, for a box in the
house or an easily constructed hotbed
will an answer the purpose very sdtisfact-
orily. Indeed many truck gardeners
who raise a considerable variety of
early vegetables, never have anything
mo- more costly than the simplest kind Of
hotbeds
Ihe early starting of plants in this
way presuppOseS that it was thought
OF and provided for before winter set
IN. It would not he easy, in most cases,
to obtain the proper kind Of soil or
compost at this season of the year,
and II no preparation has been made
the plant must be laid aside, unless
some one else, more provldent, can sup
ply the necessary soil
A good, light, sandy loam-the richer
and lighter the better-mal1es a good
enough soil. Before using it should be
run through a sieve. so as to remove
all stones, Jumps and rubbish. A table
spoonful Of superphosphate to each half
bushel of soil may be added to adj
vantage. and five or six quarts of peat
moss. or sphagnum. such as nursery
| men use for packing, thoroughly dried
and sifted. to the half bushel Of soil
makes an excellent material for start
| ing seeds
Ii it is thought too much labor to
make hotbeds, boxes about thirty
! inches long, twelve inches wide and
three inches deep, made of half-inch
stuff. may be used in the house These
may be placed on a flower stand or on
the window sill, where they should be
so secure that they will not be knocked
of. Where a large number Of plants
is not required, these boxes are all
that are necessary, and they are a
source of pleasure and instruction, as
4 well as of mere utility, especially if
there are children in the family old
enough to observe and assist.
A hOtbed should. if possible, be placed
on the south side of 4 fence or build
ing, where it will be protected from the
severe winds, and at the same time re-
ceive the full benefit of the suns rays.
There are two ways of making it. One
| is to place fermenting manure on the
surface Of the ground, taking care to
build it up in an even, solid mass, with
the long and short manure equally
distributed, until it is from two feet
to thirty inches high It should be
about two feet longer and wider than
the frame Of the hotbed, as the center
4 will be hotter than the outside of the
mass. Another method is to dig a pit
two feet longer and wider than the
frame, fill it with the manure anC
tread it down evenly and sordly.
l A convenient size for the sash is SKI
4 feet. The frames should be made OF
tWo-inch plank, the back twelve anC
the front eight inches wide, which al
lows sufficient slone to carry off water
Il from the sash. The sides should, o1
4 course, be planed down to fit the two
ends, and the back and front pieces
beveled off, so that the sash will ii
closely at the ends and sides. A single
brace across the middle Of the frame
the short way, is enough to make i
firm, if two-inch lumber is used.
The soil may be put into the frame
as soon as it is in place. Six or eigh
inches of soil is better than a shalloWe
bed, as when once heated through i
will retain the heat longer, and TIL
plants will be less likely to burn thai
if in closer contact with the hot man
ure. Seeds should not be sown for a
least 4 week after the beds begin t.
heat. Meantime the weeds and gras
will sprout and may be removed be
fore the seed is put in +.
A good deal of care and expericnc,
Is required to regulate a hotbed. |
must be guarded against both heat ant
cold and overhca ting-the former b.
covering with boards or mats at night
the latter by proper ventilation whel
the sun shines brightly But it vii
repay all the trouble it costs if success
fully managed.