Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1895-03-23
FARM AND GARDEN
Suggestions and Facts That
Tend to Profit.
TRIED BY PRACTICAL PEOPLE

Some Good suggestions About Making
Farm Hotbed-ProHt in Clean Cut
ture-How to Make the Hens Pay--A
Way of Caring for Bees In Winter.
The first spring work in the farm gar
den is making II hotbed. 1t will furnish
fresh vegetables when they are Il relish
and cost comparatively little, for every
thing is at hand except the sash, and
that when once procured will last for
years. The ordinary hotbed sash is six
by three feet, very convenient size,
alt oough 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 IL inches
high at the front and t8 at the back.
About the first of March haul out few
loads of fresh horse manure which has
begun to ferment and place in square
fiat pile. In few days, when it has
begun to heat violently, fork over, shake
it out well and throw ont all frozen
Jumps. Make into a bed at least .
feet thick and extending a couple of feet
beyond the frame all around, treading it
down firmly. Manure thrown loosely
together will heat rapidly for Il short
time and then become cold, but when it
is made comparatively firm, it will give
forth gentle heat for six or eight weeks.
When the bed has been prepared place
the frame upon 1T and bank 1t up we'll
to the top with manure.
1t is now ready Tor the soil. Use light
garden loan which has been prepared
the fall before. This had previously
been placed in heap and covered with
manure to keep it from freezing, so that
it can be had when wanted. Neglect Of
this item may cause some delay in max
ing the hotbed for the ground Is usually
found frozen March LIST, and it is difficult
to procure soil from the open ground
Place five or six inches of earth on the
manure, leveling and tining with an
iron-tOothed rake; then put on sash
and leave the bed alone Tor a few days
before planting the seeds. Ii 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 subside t.
about 80 degrees, then it will be safe tC
SOW. Mark OFT 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
board or the back of hoe.
Radishes and onions do not need
transplanting, but transplant tomatoes
and cabbages once or twice before set
ting in the open ground, giving them
more room each time. Also transplant
lettuce when it gets its second or third
pair of leaves. Set three inches apart
each way, and it will soon become 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 removed alto
gether during the middle OF the day, but
must always be replaced when it turns
cool toward evening. When the water
begins to gather on the inside of the
glass it shows the air is getting damp
and heavy, and if not changed the plants
Will smother, or tno temperature VII
get too high, but always avoid letting in
a cold draught directly onto the plants.
Water sparingly in cold weather, and
never when the sun is very bright, toi
the drops of water on the leaves under
the glass act as lens and burns the
leaves SO that they will turn brown. Fol-
this reason in bright weather the water
ing should be done either in the morn
ing or evening. If too much water il
given the bed will become soggy and
dead, and the plants will turn yellow
and cease to thrive. TO avoid this | LEI
the bed become quite dry before water
ing and then give 1t thorough soaking
On cold nights or in stormy weather the
glass should be covered with mating OF
boards or even hay or straw to keep the
temperature from falling too low. A
well managed hotbed will more than
pay any family for the trouble. Once
enjoyed it will be made every spring
1t will require little attention every
day, but the pleasure of having early
vegetables will be an ample reward.-L,
A. Carpenter in Orange Judd Farmer.