Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-11-14

seedlings have developed Su1flcAsntly,
they may be transplanted TO the other
part OF the cold frame. A cold frame
may he made OF any size desired but
the Dimensions given will probably be
found most satisfactory and of suffi-
Gent size TO meet the needs of an ordi-
nary family.
hot bed may be constructed as fol-
lows: Dig hole in the ground to a
depth OF two feet. and il may be of any
width or length TO suit the fancy of the
owner. though s by IL will be found
about right. Choose a well-drained To-
cation where the sun will strike the
bed as much of the day as possible
Posts should be set at the four cor
ners OF the hole These may be of any
size but axis will answer. All sides
of the hot bed should be boarded up
with one inch material. The back Of
the bed should rise above the~ground
to a height Of Is to Is inches and the
front one foot This gives sufficient
slope TO cause tle water TO drain quick
ly off the glass. A sufficient number
of cross pieces should be run across
the bed to hold the sash in place. The
sash should be about three feet, wide
and six feet long. A hot bed built as
indicated will cost very little except for
labor. "a rough lumber may be used for
it's construction. II win not last long,
however, as the boards viii soon decay
and il win nave to be rebuilt, but 1t
will answer every purpose of a more
expensive type 1t seems waste on
time and energy, however, to build IL
of such flimsy material IL would De
better 10 use two inch planks in its
construction and to paint these with
not creosote If this material cannot
be obtained from a local hardware
merchant. il can often be secured from
gas works in barrel lots at about 10
10 cents per gallon. twill be found
an excellent material 10 have on hano
ON every farm. The frame thoroughly
nainted and constructed Of yellow pine
should last for several years. If the
corner posts are made or cedar so much
the bettor, and AKA VIII answer very
well for this purpose. The sash VIII
cost ordinarily about $50 apiece. IL
viii cost about 10 cents for tar to coat
the boards ana about $500 for the
best grade of lumber. The labor should
not cost more than $3.50 to $500. A
first-class hot bed can therefore be
constructed at a cost not ito exceed
S12 to SIS and one Of the cheaper kind
may probably be built for about $40.
The investment is not such, therefore,
as to deter anyone from having the
benefits which the hot bed will confer.
In filling the hot bed brick bats ana
loose rocks should be placed in the bot
tom to the depth of two or three inches.
Then secure several loads OF horse ma
nure as free from Dirt and litter as
possible Mix il with equal portions
of leaves and pack IL down into a COM
pact. conical heap. AS 1T begins to
heat. which will be shown from the
srsr
hot bed Put aoout one foot or IS inch
es of this Material down and pack il
firmly. Allow a. to stand for two or
three DAYS. When il begins TO neat
insert a thermometer therein and II
the temperature is as much as 100 de-
grees withhold planting until 1t has
cooled down to about 80 degrees. Then
cover with six to eight inches of leaf
mold or the best garden soil available.
Compact the surface and plant in rows
six incnes apart AS three or four rows
will provide plenty of plants for all the
hot bed it is well to have a supply of
them on hand so they may be planteo
out as soon as the hot bed is ready To
receive them. The not bed must be
watered freely every day but not to e&-
cess The glass should be kept raised
or showed back on a platform built for
that purpose the greater part of the
day, but should be let down at night.
If The plants are watered once or twice
a week with solution containing a lit
tie nitrate of soda the growth will be
FASTENED. A teaspoonful added to an
ordinary watering pot will be about the
right proportion OF this ingredient to
use Keep the plants well worked and
free from weeds In extreme cold weather
blanket with heavy burlap over the top
OF the glass. The earth. excavated from
the bed should be packed tightly around
the outside. Bermuda may be allowed
to grow on this earth, thus making the
hot bed easy of approach even when
mthe weather is wet and unfavorable.
Like all things new to the owner il
takes some experience to understand
sthe idiosyncrasies of cold frames and
hot beds. but they are not difficult to
establish and manage. and the rewards
they viii bring TO the owner in the way
OF luxurfes for his family. which are
frequently unobtainable in cold weather
and when available unreasonably high
priced, should induce every farmer ano
citizen to establish one or more of
these frames at the earliest possible
moment
LGROWING ALFALFA IN SOUTH.
WEST GEORGIA.
r. W. E.. Albany. Ga, writes: Is
the soil suitable for the growth of al.
falfa in the vicinity of Albany? Is
ithe land deficient in lime, and would
Fan application of this material be in
!, furious TO young pecan trees. 1t is my
I--ntention to raise alfalfa in the pecan
; orchard. the trees being planted twenty
ito me acre.
. A portion of the soil in the eastern
: part of Dougherty county consists OF
' what is known as Altamaha crit. and
! would hardly be regarded as naturally
! so rich and valuable for agricultural
l purposes as the vicksburg-Jackson 70,
nation which constitutes the character
pot the soil found in the greater part of
], THIS county. The Vicksburg-Jackson
formation is of limestone origin and
constitutes an excellent soil. II is ~
|; good thickness and is made IN of hard
!. and soft limestone mixed with some
sssilica which is quite highly phosphorit-
serous. OF course. IL Is impossible to
sssay without specific analysis what Der
J. cent OF limestone is found in the upper
measures OF this soil. Since this land
has been cultivated for many years and
exposed to much teaching and washing
lime may not be present in the s,trfa &c