Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-05-07
-HOT-8ED CONSTRUCTION.

EVeIEOuG WsAlO Has q tSoAoOA
sh ould make a ,hot7bed. for by
this means a numbsr of yegeta-
.bles can easily be made ready
for use much carrier than would
othetwise be possible. A hot-hed
is not expensive nor hard to
make and any person can oper-
ate one successfully
The size of the hot-bed depends
. II number of things. 1t often
happens that there are old win
dow sash about a farm which
may be utilized for this purpose,
thereby saving expense. A large
number Of farm houses are now
provided with storm sash for
winter protection. AS the hot
he'd should be made at about
the time these sash are remover
from the windows it makes a
very pice arrangement to use
them for the hot-bed, and if care
IS exercised they may be so made
with bolts so that they can be
readily taken apart and stored.
The front piece should be from
eight to twelve inches high, usu-
ally about eight, and the back
piece enough higher to give
slant of one inch to one inch and
a half to the foot. Thus, if the
bed is four feet wede and the
front piece is to be eight inches
high. A strip is pailed along the
inside Of both the front piece and
the back piece on which the sash
is to rest, and if necessary,
strips are placed crosswise to
sustain the edges of each sash.
The location of the hot bed is
also matter of conveience, but
it should be in some place which
is protected on the north. The
south side of a building is a
good place. The location shoule
also be on fairly high ground
with a slope for drainage, and
the slope should be to the south
in order to get the most sun
light and be protected from the
north wind.
The frame may be built Of any
lumber which is convenient. II
a permanent frame is to be built
1t is economy to b aid it o. two
inch plank, dressed and painted
The pieces should be fastened to-
gether with tenets and mortises.
The depth of the pit depends
upon the time at which the hot
bed is to be used. fit is to be
planted in February, the pit
should be about two feet or two
and one half feet deep, but if the
planting is to be done about the
first of March sixteen or twenty
inches will be sufficient. The pit
should be obliged to wait until
the frost is gone or one will find
very difficult digging. 1t should
be a foot larger on all sides than
the frame, this is point that is
overlooked by many, dut is i'm
portant, as the sidet of the hot
bed are the coolest parts and
need the added protection.
The essential item in the hot
bed is the heat, and on the topic
much has been said and written
the discussions partake largely
pf fine therizing and serve to
confuse rather than enlighten.
The heat Is in all practical cases
obtained from manure. Every
farmer is familiar with what is
lcallep firing Of manure, and
knows that manure which has
fired has lost much of it's fertility
this Identical process which is so
undesirable in the barnyard IS
just what is required In the hot
bed 1t is well known that ifI
manure IS kept loose and moist
it will not 6re. In the hot-bed
the opposite result is in1peritave
therefore the opposite condi-
tions must be obtained.
In practice. fresh horse man.
ure in which a fair amount of
hne litter, preferably oat straw.
is mixed is the best for the hot.
bed. This should be well mixed
and fine and loose when it IS
pnt IN, and free from lnmpt and
punches OF litter. 1t takes exper-
fence TO know just what man
nure IS best for the hot-bed. AS
the manupe is put ID it should be-
trsmped down, it is best to put
q iav-v half a foot 6a.xo aud