The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1911-06-09

exert marked influence on the rate of
development in plants. The beds should
extend east andWeSt, and be located on
a southerly or southeasterly slope. This
exposure will give the beds the great
est benefit from the early spring sun.
1t is also we'll to have the beds pro-
tected on the north and northwest from
the prevailing cold winds. This may
be done by placing the beds on the
south side of buildings or woods. The
beds should not be located Or low spots
as these are more likely to safer from
late spring frosts, or become too wet
from spring rains. Well drained land
only should be considered as suitable
for seed beds.
The location of beds in an inconven-
lent place usually results in lack of at
tention. It is a good plan to locate the
beds as near the farmyard as possible
as the grower is then able to employ
spare hours in wedding and caring for
them. 1t is very convenient to have
line of pipe from the wind mill or cattle
tank running to small tank near the
beds. This is especially desirable at
the time of pulling the plants, when
good supply of water close at hand will
allow very considerable saving of
time.
SOWING THE SEED.
Having chosen the site of the seed
beds in the late summer previous to the
sowing of the seed, a heavy top dress
ing of manure may be applied over the
area to be covered by the beds. This
may be left on the ground until the
following spring in order to allow the
fertilizing elements to leach into the
suitable condition for cultivating in the
spring, the bed should be made ready
for the seed. Allowing the soil to lie
as it is for some time after blowing is
likely to cause it to dry out, after
which it will necessitate thorough
watering before the sowing of the seed.
The cold frame should be made ap-
proximately six feet wide, depending
upon the width of the covering to be
used. The covering is usually muslin
of slightly better grade than cheese
cloth, costing four to six cents per
yard. One inch boards, eight inches
wide should be used for the frame
These are staked down alond the side
of the bed six feet apart, and wherever
the bed ends a cross board is put in A
good method to prevent the canvas
from sagging is to stretch galvanized
iron wire lengthwise through the cen
ter of the bed and support it by props
every 10 or Is feet to hold it one or two
inches above the level of the boards.
The canvas will then rest on the wire
in the center, and can be stretched
tightly over the beds by drawing it up
L. e
cloth permits excessive water running
into the middle of the bed, which in
case of heavy rainfalls will materially
ers prepare permanent cold frames,
one rod long and six feet wide, and the
entire cold frame is removed when it is
desired to remove the covering of mus
lin. These have the advantage of be-
ing always ready, but require more
lumber and more room for storage
The time of sowing the seed will vary
from season to Season. The best time
to sow is Immediately after the usual
time of the last killing frost in the
spring. The average date of the last
frost in Wisconsin is April 80, but the
beds are very often sown as early as
April 20. 1t is very good plan for all
growers to sow twice as many beds as
they will need to allow for all accidents
that may befall part of them, and for
the same reason, it is we'll to sow at
two or three times at intervals of three
or four days to insure part of the beds
at least against injury from frost.
In Wisconsin the seed is practically
always sprouted before sowing in the
cold frames. 1t is questionable wheth-
err this practice is always of much BEN
eft. 1t undoubtedly is in those cases
where the sprouted seed is sown lust
at the start of warm period. Sowing
of well-sprouted seed, however, which
is soon after followed by frost or cold
weather, is very likely to result in the
killing or injury of the sprouted seeds.
AS good and better results are often