The silver star., 1901-03-29
.sIltyER, l[!s4,I!IR STAR. s,!'.Ae.
sos n. 81 VIII. TEsdSissy.s Esiso9y - -.
DOLORES. ooLonAno
Terms: san per ysar.
THE norBEp.
A Thing Ensential for E.rly y.~.

Thin9 EDneutia1 for EarIv Wee
tables.
Every farm should have a arst-c,o :.
garden and In that garden should hs q =
abundance Of early vegetables. There 1,
every reason why the farmers fa,,ti,,
should enjoy the luxury of early vere.s
bics. Near cities and large towns there
are market gardeners who devote much
attention to raising vegetable plaMs 10
supply the demand. In such se .ttor. .
farmers often depend entirely ON secur.
irg their PLANTS from these SOURCES -.
pcciaily as they can buy them at verv
reasonable rates. There are. howevcr
many farmers who should prepare a hot.
bed not only for the very early yeeet..
bies, bu. also for the raising of m.ry
plants that require setting ont for ths
regular late crops, especially such az cab.
bage' caniihower. eggplants, tomato,s
ETC The farmer who once tries a hotbed
VIII always thereafter have one. All au-
thorIues agree that perfect digestion ia
the KEY 20 good health. There is nothing
tha. equa's varied supply of good vege-
tables as aids to digestion. A good par.
den will lessen the visits of the docto,
The following practical Instruction for
the construction Of the hotbed is from, ~.
Philadelphia Record: March is the month
when the hothcd should be made and &,
is a matter that deserves cop,ideratior
wherever early vegetables are desired
The hotbed shortens the winter season
considerably. and gives longer growing
rcrind. 1t protects the young plants frovn
dhe irosts and supplies warmth necessarx
10 their well being hefnre the summer
puts IN an appearance. The hotbed nav
be OF any size desired. but usually If 4.
three by SIX feet. as sash that size can
easily be procured. ~ should face N.
south, the north side being about fourt eo,.
inches high and the front about TO-,
inches above the level of the ground ana
the sash should fit closely. An cxce,,or,
plan Ia to make pit two feet deem ana
set their frame in. though the nit need NOT
be so deep II not preferred. the upper nor.
ton OF the frame extending above ground
TO the height mentioned above. Place the
manure In the pit trnmple 1t firmly ana
theh put about six inches of rich dirt nm
."0 manure 10 as to have the earth come
TO about six inches OF the ton NJ III.
.""er OF SoHh side. Now bank up the
frame all around with earth to the tor,
VI me poarus ana press II firmly, SO as
TO shed water and protect against cold
inns banking OF the earth is Important
ana should not he overlooked. The large.
ha yr,Nr
heat will be secured. as II Is the decor-
position Of the manure thu, croa.a.
warmth. II some very fine. tbororr,,,,,
rotted manure Is mixed with tho col, 60,
the manure II will be an ADVANTAGE Il,
giving the young plants plant food with
In easy reach until they can exterd the,r
roots down to the main supply under
Meath II the top soil is sifted. so as IN
remove any pebbles or small stones 80
much the better. as the top soil must he
hhe. Inc manure must be prepared now
Use only fresh horse manure: that IL
nave no litter In 1t. Place II in a hean
IN dry place and in the sun so as tn
have II ferment. and It should ferment
evenly all through Turn 1t over fro
quently and note its condition. II IL heats
too rapidly tread It down. I. shouid NO,
be allowed to continue heating unit, n
exhausts itself. Pit the manure in tho
hotbed. place the sash on and the ha,t
VII rise. Let II remain two or three day.
until the heat begins to subside ana
when at about ninety degrees the seed
may De sown. There is not near the difii-
cuty making the bed as may appear.
The object In heating the manure before
It Is put In the hotbed Is to reduce the
Jumps and permit of better packing In
the hotbed 1t may ~ due to the manure
being trampled too much When air get.
into the manure more heat will be gen.
Grated. but the manure will not give Off
heat so long as the AFR Is excluded. An
other plan to create more heat should IL
De lacking Is to slake n lump of stone
lime. mix II with warm water and give
The hotbcd good soaking, but this must
De done before the seeds are planted On
warm days It may be necessary to raise
the nash to cool the hotbed, but cold
water will also accomplish the same re-
sCh. The main point " to Use plenty of
manure. and allow It to get rid OF some OF
Its heat before using It. but II must not
ferment too much, ~ It Is the material
from which the heat Is to be derived In
the hotbed. All plants must have air.
hence the sash must be raised a little
every day. but only for a short while ~
the weather Is very cold. On nice warm
days the sash may be lifted on or raised
- Its full height. but not until the sun Is
well up. and 1t must be closed before sum
down. An old carpet or other covering
should be placed over the sash at night.
lf water begins to collect on the under
side of the glass II indicates that the
temperature Tx too high. when fresh air
plants II Is not necessary to saturatc the
hotbcd. Too much water is ~ Injurious
as too little. Sow the seeds In straight
rows. each variety to Itself. and pull out
all young weeds or shoots or grass that
may appear. As the weather becomes
warmer the manure will be nearly ex-
, = ssted and will give of less hent. Take
advantage OF every warm day. n only at
noon, To expose the plants. 80 ns to
harden them as much IA possible. Do
not cover the seed more than half an
inch and n the young plants nre too
thick remove the surplus. Early cabbage
and lettuce nre hardy. and can stand
more exposure than tomatoes or egg
plants. but the hotbed must be so man,
aged IN to protect the tender kinds.
Triumphant the hardy kinds M soon as II
can he done. Tomatoes Will he stockier
n tranrpluntcd TO cold frames after the
cold days have pnsscd Much will de-
pend ,ipon the close observation OF the