Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1909-08-20
FIG. xxxv-sEcr1oN OF HoTBEp.

too, the family begins to get hungry
for green stuff usually long before
there is any for use.
Besides having light, early soil, a
south slope and preparing the ground
early, there are number Of other de-
vices that can be resorted to to secure
earliness. One Of the most important
of these is the hotbed. A hotbed costs
little, and after its advantages have
once been found out by actual trial it
is seldom abandoned. The best loca-
ton for hotbed is on the south side
of building. 1t should face the south
In order to get the most possible heat
from the sun. The main source Of
heat. however. is fermenting horse ma
nure. A pit may be dug for the ma
nure, but the hotbed will be Just as
successful if the manure is piled on
top of the ground. The pile should be
about two feet deep and should be
spread out fiat and packed tightly. 1t
should extend out about two feet each
way from the frame that is to be used.
The manure used should have the
proper proportions of straw and mois-
ture, so that it will be springy, but
not too loose.
1t is fact that much Of the success
of the hotbed depends on the proper
condition Of this heat supply. If the
manure is too far advanced in decom.
active enough to generate the proper
amount of heat. On the other hand. If
active fermentation has not already
begun the necessary heat will not be
on hand when it is wanted. and ger
mination and growth will be alto
gether too slow. A little careful at
tention to this matter will prevent dis
appointment.
The frame may be of any desired
size, according to the size Of glass that
can be secured. A storm window
makes good top for hotbed If nc
glass can be secured sash covered
with muslin may be used. The frame
should be about eight inches deep In
front and fourteen behind. AS soon as
the manure has been packed in place
the frame should be placed upon II
and about five inches of rich soil plac
ed inside. The best way to get this
soil is to store it away in barrel the
fall before. as you will want it Ions
before the ground thaws in the spring
Managing the Hotbed.
The proper time to start the hotbet
is about six weeks before the grount
outside will be ready for planting
About three days after the hotbed ha
been started the temperature will hav'
become uniform. and the seeds can b
planted. They can be planted th:ckly
since they are to be taken up befor
they have made much growth. TIL
principal plants started in hotbe,
are cabbages and tomatoes. Lettuc
f and radishes may also be grown !
{ the hotbed and If planted thinl
l enough may be left there until the
5 are large enough to use. If you wan
5 few early melons or cucumbers tn
seed may be planted in strawberr
boxes of dirt and placed in the hotbet
When the weather is sufficiently war;
outside they may be set out in tn
garden. The roots will make their wa
through the sides of the box, and thre
n or four weeks will be saved. This
d q clever device for treating early SOY
e ings of plants which do not bear tran
J. planting. Started in this way early
t the season they may be transferre
h box and all. into the garden bed nj
9 suffer no backset.
During cold nights the hotbed shou
l. be covered with straw or old carpe
p to keep it from getting too cold insid
y On sunshiny days the sash may ha
IS to be raised during the warmer pa
= of the day to give ventilation III
a plants should be watered In the NOR
ing on warm days only to prevent t
n great reduction Of temperature.
A cold frame is almost as necessa
:" rs hotbed. The plants raised in
hotbed are very tender and are liat
n to be injured if transplapted direct