The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1902-01-09

CROSS SECTION OF HoTDED.

CROSS SECTION OF HOIBED.
ordinary farmer knows little about.
The correct management of the hotbed
is of the utmost Importance, for upon
this rests the success or failure of q
whole seasons crop. 1t Is the early
crop that brings the highest price in
the market, and in tomato culture es-
peclally the hotbed is always needed to
start the tender young plants into
growth.
+ 1t is now the best time for planning
the construction of the hotbed. for in
this climate the tomato seed should be
sown during the latter part of Decem-
Der or the first of January. The loca-
ton for the beds should be selected
with the object in view of affording
some protection from the cold north
winds, and the southern side of shed
or barn is an admirable location.
For ordinary use a hotbed 10 feet
long and 6 feet wide Is sufficient, for
after the plants are nicely started they
may be transplanted to the cold
frames A bed 0 feet long and feet
wide should terminate enough tomato
plants for an acre of ground. These
beds may be constructed at very little
expense. The soil should be excayated
to a depth of about three feet, and the
sides may be built up with boards one
or two inches thick This is not an alb
solute necessity, but the boards check
the radiation of the heat from the
4 Ina
At the surface Of the soil plank
/ foot wide and 2 inches thick should
extend along the northern side.
Along the southern side, ut distance
equal to the length of the sash, which
Is usually six feet, another plank,
inches wide and . inches thick Is
run down the length Of the bed, the
ends are connected by two inch plank
and the bed Is ready for use. 1t Is
usually best to place crosspieces OF
2 by material at intervals or
from four to six feet to make the
whole structure secure and to hold the
sash in position. The soil that Is
thrown out of the bed may be used to
bank up the sides.
For this locality probably no material
is cheaper or more effective for heat
ing purposes than cottonseed hulls.
The bed Is filled up about two feet with
firmly packed bulls, which have been
made quite wet in order to cause them
to heat. Above these hulls six or eight
inches of good rich garden soil Is APP
piled and the bed is ready for the seed.
If the action of the decompOsing bulls
is too active and the temperature runs
too high in the soil it IS better to wait
until the heat has subsidized somewhat
before sowing the seed, or otherwise
the tender roots of the plantlets Will
be destroyed. This. however. will sci
dom occur, for If the temperature is
too high ventilation will usually pre-
vent injury 10 the plants. The hulls
will retain sufficient heat for four or
five weeks. and afterward the bed may
be used as cold frame. In the spring
these decayed hulls make a valuable
fertilizer Sow the seed crosswise of
the bed In rows about an inch and a
half apart. This may be conveniently
and quickly done by taking n stick
with n square edge as long as the eX-
act width of the bed, press 1t gently
into the soil and SOW seeds in the de
preston. The depth to SOW the seeds
will depend upon the size of the seeds.
but safe rule for sowing in hotbeds
is to cover about five times the thick
ness of the diameter of the seeds
flor Gna1G
ed the soil must be firmly packed over