The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-02-27

died, and the use of larger and better glass
We would recommend that the sash be
three by five feet, and that the glass De
not less than 1Ox14. laid with not more than
one-quarter inch lap. In giving the order
to one unaccustomed to the work. it would
be well to state what they are to be USED
for, and that they need to be made like
skylight sash.
THE FRAME.
This may be made of sound one-inch lum-
Der, the back y to IA inches high, the front
10 to r. 1t should be well fitted to the sash
SO as to leave as little opening as possible.
and yet allow the sash to be easily slid up
and down, even when the frame is quite
wet.
THE SOIL
This should be light, rich friable. Any
considerable amount of clay in it Is very
Objectionable. If possible, it should be
quite dry and unfrozen when put into the
bed; for this reason it is much better to
prepare it the fall before and cover the
pile with enough coarse manure or straw
to keep out the frost
MAKING THE BED.
This requires careful attention, future
success depends largely upon the manner in
which this work is DONE Having cleared
away all snow and ice, build a rectangular
bed one foot larger each way than the
frame to be used carefully shaking out
and spreading each forkful, and repeatedly
treading down the manure to make the
bed uniform a possible in solidity, COM
position and moisture 1t is of the utmost
Importance that this shaking apart and
evenly pressing down of the manure should
be carefully and thoroughly done; unless
this is done one portion will heat quicker
than the Others and the soil will settle
unevenly making it impossible to raise good
plants. The proper depth of the bed will
vary with the climate, season, and the kind
OF plants to be raised. A shallow bed will
give quick, sharp heat, and soon subside;
deeper one if well made, will heat more
moderately, but continue much longer. For
general purposes, a bed ~ to feet deep
will be best.
The bed completed, the frame and sash
may be put on, and fresh manure carefully
packed around the outside to the very top
df the weather is at all severe, this outside
banking should be replenished as it set
tles). The bed should then be allowed to
NANAA
day or two to allow the steam and rank to
pass off. The earth should then be put on
and carefully leveled. Care should be
taken that the soil is dry and friable. If
wet or frozen soil must be used, it should
be placed in small piles until well dried out
before spreading. The heat at first will
be quite violent frequently rising to 120
degrees, but it soon subsidies, and when it
recedes to 80 degrees the seed may be
planted The importance Of using dry soil
and allowing the first rank heat to pass
off is very great. Every season thousands
OF hotbeds fail of good results from these
causes, and seedsmen are blamed for fail
ure resulting from overhead or wet, soggy
soil
MANAGEMENT OF THE BED.
The essentials for success are a steady,
uniform degree of heat and moisture keep
ing the soil at all times a few degrees
warmer than the air. and the careful
hardening off, (by exposure to the air
and diminishing the supply of water) of
the plants before transplanting into the
open air. Simple as these may seem to
be, there are many difficulties in the way
of securing them. prominent among which
a
Without experience one would scarcely be-
ieve how quickly the temperature inside
of well-buit hotbed will rise to 80 or 100
degrees upon a still, sunny day, even when
the temperature outside is far below freez-
ing, how quickly the temperature will
fall to that outside, if upon windy, cloudy
day, the sash is left open ever so little;
besides such rush of cold air driven over
the plants is far more injurious that the
same temperature when the air is still.
Again, bed will go several days without
watering when kept closed during cloudy
weather. but will dry up in an hour when
open on a sunny day. The details of man.
agement, however, must be learned by ex-
perience, but may easily be acquired by
one who gives the matter careful attention,
keeping constantly in mind the essentials
given above.
TRANSMITTING
In transplanting the main points to be
regarded are: Care in taking up the plants
as to avoid injury to the roots, planting
firmly so as to enable the plant to take
a secure hold Of the soil, reducing the top
to prevent evaporation, and shading to pre-
vent the hot sun from whitening and blight
IIlS TIE leaves. III transporting from a
hotbed harden the plants by letting them
get quite dry for day or two before, but
give abundance of water a few hours be-
fore they are taken out 1t is most apt
to be successful if done just at evening,
or Immediately before or during the first
part of a rain, when the ground being wet
it is impossible to sufficiently press it about
the plant without it's baking hard. II
water is used at all, it should be used freely
and the wet surface Immediately covered
with dry SOIL
WATERING.
The best time to water plants is at sun
| rise, or just at evening. Water may be giver
| to the roots at any time, but should never
| be sprinkled over the leaves in the no
sun, for it will make them blister and cover
| them with brown spots wherever it touch
| es. If watering the plants has been com
menced, keep on until the necessity ceases
| or more injury than good will result from
| it; one copious watering is better than
| little and often. The use Of the hoe should
! always follow the watering pot as soon a.
| the ground becomes sufficiently dry.
MILK.
| Some Valuable Hints From the Re