The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-18
THE FARM HOTBED.
How 30 Make II and How 10 Manage
It-Kcep the Bed Full.


The ordinary hot bed sash is six by three
feet. a convenient size, though any old
sash will answer the purpose. says an eN-
change. Construct the frame as wide as
the sash is long. and as long as II is de-
sired 70 make the bed. Have twelve
inches high at the front and eighteen at
the back. Make a bed at least one and a
half feet thick and extending couple Of
feet beyond the frame all around of horse
manure, which has begun to heat vio-
lenty. Tread this bed down firmly, for
manure thrown loosely together will heat
rapidly for a short time and then become
cold, but when it is made comparatively
firm IL viii give forth gentle heat for
six or eight weeks When the bed has
been prepared. place tho frame upon it
and bank II up well to the top with ma
nure. 1t is now ready for the soil Use
light garden loan which has been pre-
pared the fan before. Place five or six
inches Of earth on the manure, leveling
and dninE with an iron toothed rake.
Then put on the sash and leave the bed
alone for few days before planting the
seeds. If the seeds are put in al once, the
manure may become so hot that the
tender germs will be destroyed. About
the third or fourth day the heat will us
ually subside to about 80 degrees then II
will be safe TO sow, according TO American
Agricuturist authority for the following
directions: 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 a hoe.
Radishes and onions do not need trans
planting, but transplant tomatoes and
cabbage once or twice before setting in
the open ground, giving them more room
each time. also transplant lettuce When
its gets its second or third pair of leaves.
Set three inches apart each way, ana ~
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 cir when
the weather will permit. AS II becomes
warmer the sash may be removed alto
gcther during the middle of the day, nut
must always be replaced when 1t turns
cool toward evening. when the water
begins 10 gather, .op the in side Of the
glass. it shows that che air Is getting
damn and heavy, and III not changed the
plants will smother or the temperature
will get too high, but always avoid let
ting in a cold draft directly on the plants
Water sparingly in cold weather and never
when the sun is very bright. for the drops
of water on the leaves under the glass
act as a lens and burn the leaves so that
they will turn brown. For this reason
I'm bright weather the watering should
be done either in the morning or even
ing. 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 let the bed become
quite dry before watering, and then give
II a thorough soaking. Omfcold 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 well-managed
hot-bed will more than pay any family for
the trouble