The Bottineau pioneer., 1895-04-20
FOR THE FARMERS.
USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT THN
WORK ON A FARM.
Some, Good Suggestions About Maxi
ing a Farm Hotbed-Profit i'm clean
Culture-HOw to Make the Hens
Pay-A Balky Horse.

The first spring work in the farm
garden is making hotbed. 1t will
furnish fresh vegetables when they
are relish and cost comparatively
little, for everything is at hand except
the sash and that when once procured
will last for years. The ordinary hot
bed sash is six by three feet, a very
convenient size, although any old sash
will answer the purpose. Construct
the frame as wide as the sash is long
and as long as it is desired to make
the bed. Have II inches high at the
front and 1S at the back. About the
first OF March, haul out few loads OF
fresh horse manure which has begun
to ferment and place in a square flat
pile In a few days when it has begun
to heat quite violently, fork over.
shake it out we'll and throw out all
frozen Jumps. Make into bed at
least - feet thick and extending Il
couple Of feet beyond the frame all
around, trcading it down firmly Mall
ure thrown loosely together will heat
rapidly for short time and then be-
come cold, but when it is made COM
paratively firm, it will give forth
gentle heat for six or eight weeks.
When the bed has been prepared place
the frame upon it and bank it up we'll
to the top with manure.
It Is now ready for the soil. Use
light garden loan which has been pre-
pared the fall before. This had pre-
viously been placed in heap and COW
cred with manure to keep it from
freezing, so that it can be had when
wanted. Neglect of this item may
cause some delay in making the hotbed
uaZoLI iUHnsn s! nunoLS 9Ul IoJ
March 1st and it is difficult to procure
soil from the open ground. Place five
or six inches of earth on the manure,
leveling and fining with an iron-tooth-
ed rake; then put on sash and leave
the bed alone for a few days before
planting the seeds. If the seeds are
put in at once the manure may be-
come so hot that the tender germs will
be destroyed. About the third or
fourth day, the heat will usually sub
side to about so degrees, then it will
be safe to SOW. Mark off In rows
about four inches apart, scatter the
seed thinly in the drills, cover with
half an inch of soil, and pat the bed
down over the rows with a board or
the back Of hoe.
Radishcs and onions do not need
transplanting, but transplant tomatoes
and cabhages once or twice before set
ting in the open ground, giving them
more room each time. Also trans
plant lettuce when it gets It's second or
third pair Of leaves. Set three inches
apart each way and it will soon be-
come large enough for use. Always
keep the bed full. AS soon as one
crop is taken out put In something
else.
Open the bed and let in fresh air
when the weather will permit AS it
becomes warmer the sash may be re-
moved altogether during the middle
of the day. but must always be replac-
ed when it turns cool toward evening
When the water begins to gather on
the inside of the glass, it shows that
the air Is getting damp and heavy
and if not changed the plants will
smother, or the temperature will get
too high, but always avoid letting in
a cold draught directly onto the
plants. Water sparingly in cold weath'
er and never when the sun is very
bright, for the drops Of water ON the
leaves under the glass act rs a lens
and burns the leaves so that they will
turn brown. For this reason in bright
weather the watering should be done
either in the morning or evening. If
too much water is given the bed will
become soggy and dead and the plants
will turn yellow and cease to thrive
To avoid this I let the bed become
quite dry before watering and then
give it a thorough soaking. On cold
nights or in stormy weather the glass
should be covered with mating or
boards or even hay or straw to keep
| the temperature from falling too low
A we'll managed hotbed will more than
pay any family for the trouble. Once
enjoyed it will be made every spring
1t will require a little attention every
| day, but the pleasure of having early
| vegeta bles will be an ample reward
l.. A. Carpenter in Orange Judd Farm
er.