Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1914-02-11
The HOT BED HELPS SECURE
EARLY START IN GARDENING
Several Weeks May Be Gained BY Starting Plants Under
Suitable Conditions-How to Construct Hot
Bed-Transpanting Directions
A Dacy, Agriculture Va University

" -. y.
To secure maximum returns in en-
1oyment or profit from the farm gar
den or truck patch, hot-beds and cold
frames should be used for starting
early radishes, lettuce, onions, cab
bage, cauliflower, celery, tomatoes,
egg plants. peppers, cucumbers or
melons. Their cost in labor and mon
ey is so slight that they should be a
part of the equipment on every up-to
date farm. Hot-bed sash may be
bought from any large seed house,
glazed, for from $500 up, the standard
size being 6x3 feet. The farm wood
lot should furnish the lumber for the
frames. These should be placed on a
we'll drained spot, convenient TO the
garden and sheltered from the north
and west winds.
To construct a hot-bed proceed as
follows: Dig a pit running east and
west about one and half to two feet
deep, of the same width and length of
the frame to be constructed. Line the
sides and ends with inch and a half
plank, nailed TO locust or chestnut
stakes If the ground is level the
frame should extend twelve inches
above ground on the north side and
six inches on the south side TO give
proper SLOPE TO the glass. Cross bars
of one by three inch material should
nj fv,ta
er stiffness of the frame.
a week or so before the hot-bed is
to be used fresh horse manure con
tanning about one-third its bulk of
straw should be piled near the frame,
and allowed to heat. The pile
should be turned occasionally to pre-
vent fire fanging' and TO distribute
the heat evenly throughout the pile
After turning two or three times the
manure should be spread evenly in
the pit and tramped compactly, espe-
cially in the corners and along the
sides, until 4 is within two or three
inches of he.level of the ground. In.
sert thermometer in the manure
place the sash on the frame and bank
up around the outside of the frame
with the balance of the manure. The
manure in the frame will begin to heat
again, the temperature rising in many
cases 10 100 10 100 degrees +. When
it begins TO subside, spread about four
inches of good garden loan on top of
the manure and in day or two the
70 tfrfn ha
A cold frame is similar to the hot
bed in construction except that IL is
placed on top OF the ground II may
be constructed Of one inch boards
twelve inches wide for the north side
and six inches wide for the south side.
II is most commonly used for harden
ing of plants which have been started
In the hotbed, previous TO transplant
ing iD the field. although I'm the warm
or sections Of the state it may be used
for starting the plants and in some
cases for carrying them to maturity.
Cheese cloth or plant cloth" may be
used as a covering for the cold frame
instead of glass for such plants as will
occupy the frames after danger OF
heavy frosts Is past II is well to have
at hand some old blankets. burlap
bags or straw. which may be thrown
over the sash a night to protect from
the cold
The seeds may be sown directly i'm
The soil over the manure. or in shallow
boxes called flats. several Of which
can be made out of a soap box or
cracker box obtained from the local
grocery If tho latter are used. two
inches of soil viii be sufficient cover
ing for the manure BY using them.
the planting and transplantng may be
done under cover i'm weather that
would make 1t impossible out of doors
in the frame.
in either case the seed-bed should
be made firm and level, and the seed
Aown in drills about two inches apart,