El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-01-29

Agricultural College, \. NJ, Jan. %
]. E. Mundell, who is at the head of
the agricultural department Of this in
stitution. has just compiled the. follow
ing bulletin which should prove of
benefit to early gardeners.
II is nearing the season Of the year
when the early gardener will want TO
start a few plants for early vegetables
The hotbed offers one of the easiest
means to do this To prepare the hot
bed make a frame or box the size de-
sired for it. The size varies but the
usual size is from Il to feet wide
and as long as desired. 1t is not good
idea to make the bed too wide because
it prevents the grower from easily
reaching the center when he is wedding
it, The frame can be made out of
common one by six inch lumber. but
heavier material may be used II de-
sired. After saving off the pieces for
the four sides nail them together at
corners Place this box over the place
marked for the hotbed. At each cor
ner and in the center of each piece. on
the outside of the frame, sink or drive
into the ground a two by four stake so
inches long; nail the box to these
stakes. The box so secured TO these
stakes will not spread or slip up or
down.
Preparing the Soil.
When the frame has been prepared
as above dig out the soil inside of 1t
to az6epth OF "a inches. When Dig
ging out this pit it is good plan to
make it a little bigger at the bottom
than at the top so that the heating
material when placed in the pit Will be
under the whole surface Of the area
inside the frame.
Into this pit place the heating ma
terial from 16 to 20 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 place five or six inches
of rich well crumpled loamy SOIL After
the temperature of the soil has become
somewhat uniform the seed may be
planted. After the planting of the seed
care should be taken TO see thar tne
soil does not become dry, because IL IL
does the young plants viii hkeiy De
killed. The heating of the manure De
low causes the water to eVaporate
rapidly from the soil. This being the
case it is important to apply more "atsi
than is ordinarily required in an out
side bed. Probably more failures are
caused in growing plants in the hotoeu
by injudicious and improper watering
than from any other cause
To Heat the Bed.
In regard to the kind of material 10
use for heating, fresh horse manure Is
probably the best. In preparing tne
manure for the hotbed, secure Tue
amount needed for it and place tHe
same in a pile. When piling 1t up pun
on enough water to thoroughly molsueii
the whole mass If fermentation does
not commence soon it can be hasteheu
r1fl "a
cts of hot water. When the man
has begun to heat well turn over the
whole mass into a new pile. rms wiz
make the heating of the whole UNIFORM
If necessary add more water Inc io
menting manure should not De aiio
to become dry nor should il DC
too wet After the heating mas oecoiHo
somewhat uniform the manure can
put into the hotbed pit as ueooi e.,
above If the manure used Is VelS -
and does not contain much stra" VI
other litter. it is better TO aou T,,is
straw or other coarse material inns
helms to make the heating more uni
form and prevents too rapid Ieille q
ton of the manure thus CAUSING '"e
heat to last longer.
The Covering.
The kind of covering TO use 10 81
hotbed depends upon the mater"
hand. The regular cold frame sas,I - -
be used. The size most common l"
is the three by six foot sash. me 80
frame in connection with the iiis, ,s.
furnishes abundant heat for the ooiuSos
sections of the territory Wheie '
cold frame sash is not availaole, coE
ering the bed with common muslin oi
white domestic gives very Satisfactorily
results
1t let's in sufficient light and holos
the heat to some extent from passing
off too rapidly The muslin may De
stretched over the whole hotbed in one