The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-04-02

nure IS placed. This should be from
/ two and one-haIf to three feet deep
wider than the frame, and, if possible,
should be excavated in the fall and
filed with straw or other litter to pre-
vent the earth from freezing too deep,
If the beds are to be made up early in
the season
If one intends to have hotbeds from
season to season IL is economy in the
end to build permanent structures of
brick stone or cement Wood rots in
q few years, and is easily guawed by
mice Though most of the permanent
hotbeds in this country have hitherto
been of brick or stone, concrete il now
coming into as much favor here as
IT Is abroad. where it is extensively
used in the famous botanical gardens
This material is cheape than brick
and quite as lasting. Good walls can
be made with an air space Of SIX
inches between two four-fnch walls Of
concrete the whole fourteen inches
being covered on the top by four
inches OF the conn potion Tnes sash
braces are Of IRON.
In constructing q permanent hOtbed
the lined pits sometimes end at the
surface and are covered by the ordIE-
airy hot bed frame or else the walls
are built I'D for the sash TO rest d.
rectIy upon IT.
While occasionally heat is supplied
by pipes from greenhouse or dwelling
the more usual way is TO supply heat
be fresh horse manure, mixed with
about half its bulk of the straw or lit
ter used as bedding. or If this IS not
obtainabIe- with one-thfrd Of fresh
forest leaves This should be placed
in long narrow piles and turned sew
eraI times for q week or more to assist
fermentation If the pile Is kept IN
der cover away from frost II VIII De
more effective If the fermentation Is
slow in starting, wetung with hot
water will assist it,
When the fermentation has spread /
through the pile the hot beds can be /
made up- Throw out the litter from /
the bottom OF the pit Put an inch or /
two Of coarse stuff at the bottom and |
OF this eighteen inches 10 three feet /
OF manure. according to the season
when the bed IS started In ordinary |
weather two feet Of manure usually
lasts six weeks The manure should
b. trodden down to prevent too rapid
fermentation II it packs and Is soggy
under the foot there IS too little straw
IN it. II should feel springy. but not
swell up in q loose mass when pressure
IS removed
On top of the manure put layer
Of leaf mold and then five or six inches
Of good garden Ioam- and cover with
the sash. The seed must not be Sowu
until the temperature begins TO sub
side, which will usually be in about
three days after the sash has been put
in place When the temperature has
fallen to about IS degrees OF SO de-
grees Fahrenheit planting may safely
be begun It should be tested by 4
Thermometer Seeds Of tomatoes. beans.
beets and peppers can go in at SO de-
gress- radishes- caulifI0wer. cabbage
onions and peas not until Il has fallen
TO so degrees Between TO and so |
degrees win answer for most plants
A hot bed should always be located /
in a sheltered weTI-drafnad position.
preferably against a wall or wfndbreak Il
For the amateur It IS wei TO have II L
rather near the house for convenience /
sake as # requires close attention Il L
possible fl should face south or east
II the weather IS very severe manure
should be banked around the outside
Of the frame almost 70 the ton.