Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-01-23
BULLETIN TELLS HOW
TO MAKE H0TBEDS FOR
THE EARLY VEGETABLES

An interesting and timely press
bulletin from the experiment station
at the Agricultural college has just
been issued on the preparing of the
hot bed for early vegetables. 1t IS as
follows:
1t is nearing the season of the year
a few plants for early vegetables. The
hotbed offers one of the easiest means
10 do this. To prepare the hotbed,
make a frame or box the size desired
for it. The size varies, but the usual
size is from 4 1-2 feet TO s feet wide
and as long as desired. 1t is not a
good idea to make the hotbed too
wide because it prevents the grower
from easily reaching the center of
| the bed when wedding it. The frame
/ can be made out of common one by
six incl lumber, but heavier material
may be used if desired. After saving
off the pieces for the four sides nail
| them together at the corners Place
this box over the place marked for
the AOlBtu. ~ tdAH wi = III III ~
center OF each piece. on the outside
of the frame, sink or drive into the
ground a two by four stake thirty
inches long. Nail the hotbed box TO
these stakes. The box so secured tc
the stakes will not spread or slip up
or down
When the frame has been prepared
as above dig out the soil inside of it
to a depth of tw~enty-four inches.
While digging cut this pit it is a good
plan to make it a little larger at the
bottom than the frame above, so the
heating material when placed in the
pit will be under the whole surface of
the area inside the frame.
Into his pit place the heating ma
terial from sixteen to twenty inches
deep. Care should be taken to tramp
the manure down firmly and evenly
so as TO make the mass compact and
smooth on top. on top of this put five
or six inches of rich well crumbled
Danny soil. After the temperature of
the soil has become somewhat uni
form the seed may be planted. After
planting the seed. care should be TAX
en- to see that the soil does not be-
come dry. because if it does the young
plants will likely be killed. The heat
ing of the manure below causes the
water to evaporate rapidly from the
soil. This being the Ease it is i'm
portant to apply more water than or
dinarily required in an outside bed.
Probably more failures are caused in
growing plants in the hotbed by inju-
dicious and improper watering than
from any other cause.
In regard 10 the kind Of material 20
use for heating, fresh horse manure
is probably the best. In preparing
the manure for the hotbed. secure
the amount needed for 1t and place
the same in a pile. When piling it up
nut on enough water 10 thoroughly
moisten the whole mass. II fermen-
tation does not commence soon it
can be fastened by throwing on the
pile a few pailfuls of hot water. When
the M has begun to heat wei
turn over the whole mass into a new
nile. This will make the heating Of
the whole more uniform. II neces-
sary add more water. The ferment-
ing manure should not be allowed 20
become dry nor should il be made too
vet. After tire heating has become
somewhat uniform the y can te
put INFO the hotbcd pit-ss described
above. II the manure used is very
fine and does not contain much straw
or other litter. It Is better & add some
straw or other oarse material. This