The record-union., 1894-02-21
FARM AND ORCHARD.
How to Make Hot-Bed and Manage
it When Made.
Ducks in Flocks Of Twenty Thousand
WhitewaShed Trees-How to
Get Eggs in Winter.

large seed stores, II plants are requlreu
for a small garden, as early varieties are
kept in stock, but on the farm, II large
crops of early cabbage, tomatoes, sweet
potatoes, peppers and other crops, which
require protection for while, IN order to
secure early plants, are grown, hot-bed
will be valuable. The cost of hot-bed Is
but very little, considering its advant-
ages. and once made it requires but slight
repairing each year. With the hot-bed
should be constructed few cold frames.
The difference is that the hot-bed requires
glass, while the cold frame, which serves
for large plants (transplanted from the
hot-bed later in the season., may be COW
cred with boards only, especially II IN
tended for such hardy plants as early
cabbage or lettuce. The frame may be
sixteen inches high at the rear and four
teen inches in front, from the level OF the
ground, and covered with sash OF any de-
sired size. The boards may be 81 IMPLY
nailed together at the corners, fastened TO
2X3-inch scantling, but gardeners hrst
make pit, one foot deep, and use frame
twenty-four inches at the rear and
twenty-five inches at the front, according
to the kinds of plants to be grown. The
hight at the front, however, depends on
the width of the bed.
Fresh horse manure, free from litter, is
generally used. II is the fermentation OF
the manure that creates the heat. II lhe
manure is too loose ii may create heat
more rapidly than desired. 1t is better
to mix the manure in a pile, allow 1t to
heat some, and then turn it over and well
mix it again before using it in the hot
bed. Having trampled the manure
firmly, now cover it with rich dirt, to
which has been added one-tourth its bulk
OF fine well-rotted manure. There should
be no Jumps, stones or pebbles IN the
hot-bed If necessary, sift the dirt. The
thickness of the dirt should be about six
inches. AS there will then be about
foot of space between the dirt and the
sash the hot-b being twenty-four
inches at the rear ample air space will
thus be provided. Ii the manure does
not heat up quickly, and is slow. sprinkle
the bed well with hot water, first adding
a small quantity of air-slacked lime TO
the water If too much heat is generated
use cold water alone. When the heat
reaches about 60o, plant the seeds III rows,
but more warmth will be required for the
young plants later on.
OF course the frame should be well
banked up with dirt, TO prevent the effects
of the frost. The object should be to
maintain as even temperature as possible.
On clear, warm days the sash may be
raised slightly, IN order to admit air, dur
ing the middle OF the day, but this will
depend on many circumstances. The
better plan is to hang a thermometer III
the hOt-bed, and to visit it frequently. AS
the heat from the manure decreases the
weather will become warmer. Gradually
accustom the plants to the atmosphere as
much as possible, and transplant to the
cold frame such as may be suitable for
that purpose. Some sort of covering
should be used over the sash at night,
such as an old carpet, with few loose
boards over the carpet. The temperature
of the atmosphere must be the guide in
management, as the plants must not be
kept too warm or become liable to being
chilled.-PhiIadelp Record.
FARM NOTES.
1t is reported that one firm at Brands
Vile Mo. is planting this winter 200, 900
apple trees and 1000 peach trees, and
others are also planting very largely.
1.-The grape is propagated from cuttings,
aud SINGLE vine will produce large
number of cuttings in one season. Early
spring is an excellent time for such work.
Professor Shaw believes that within
ten years over 100000 sheep will be
tattened on rape. The use OF English
rape has been tried in Wisconsin and
Canada, and with very hattering results.
1.-The good name which Canadian NUT
ton has earned for itself in the markets Of
the world" says Professor Shaw, sis
owing largely TO the extent to which it is
possessed of the blood of the mutton
breeds"
Generally when horse balks it is due
to one OF three things gs-overloading, bad
fitting harness, especially the collar, and
a bad-tem pered driver A good horse
may be spoiled by being worked with a
balky one.
On small tracts Of land it is possible to
keep bees, poultry and fruit trees on the
same location with profit, but such work
can only be done by those who are eXpe-
rienced and who we'll understand what is
required for success.
Broad tiresAct as rollers. Narrow tires
cut the road into bitches. The advocates
of wide tires for heavy loads upon our
country roads claim that teams can draw
from % to 90 per cent. more load than
when narrow tires are used.
The collar is the most important part of
the harness. II collar is too large it
will chafe; if too small it will choke. 1t
costs no more 10 get collar that fits than
to get one too small or too large. Don't
torture a horse with misfit collar.
Keep onion sets dry. Dampness is more
injurious to them than cold. II they be-
come frozen do not touch them, but let
them thaw out, and Ii the weather is clear
and above the freezing point let them dry.
Keep them on wire screens, in thin lay
ers.
No man should own a work-horse un-
less he is willing and able to furnish it
shelter against cold winds and rain If
nothing better than straw-covered sheds
can be afforded, they are better than
nothing. and really serviceable as long as
they last.
Sheep fed very highly on grain, to be
fattened, will consume with relish an oc-
caslonal feed of straw, weedy hay, rag
weeds. or the like; and it will be better
tor them than steady, unbroken regi-
men of any one feed stuff, however ex-
cellent in itself.
The floor of the stable where you keep
your colts this cold weather should be
covered with thick layer of straw;
nothing gives an animal more comfort
than a good, warm bed. During the day,
unless it be very cold or stormy, the colt
is better outside.
Helebone has been used for many years
as a protect on to currants, and 1t has
been found that a small proportion OF
white helebone, III a weak solution of
kerosene emulsion, sprayed on pear trees
and grape vines, with a fine hose, will be
sure death TO any slugs that may infest
them.
One acre, says the Indiana Farmer,
will supply fifty hens at less cost for ex-
ira feed than Tor COW, and the profit, il
well managed. viii be greater than from
the COW. Fowls need land for forare. and
hens on range will lay more eggs and
fatten more quickly for market than in
confinement
In breeding turkeys a poultry paper
advises keeping the two-year-oId hens
and mating them with yearling gobbler.
The hens that proved good layers aud