Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1915-11-24
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The Hot Bed.
tJ. c. Hayden, in Progressive
Farmer.)

FarmerD
The object of home garden
should be to reduce the increasing
nigh cost Of living, and on the farm
nothing can do more to attain this
end than a garden that is wisely
| planned and managed. Some form
Of hotbed or cold frame is necessary
| in order to obtain fresh vegetables
for use every day OF the year.
TheSe frames are not luXuries.
They are cheap, easily constructed,
may be permanent. and are easily
managed. Quick maturing crops like
lettuce and radishes are easily
grown. In fact, these beds NAV be
advantagoously used to prolong the
season or to mature crops in advance
OF their normal season.
1t is useless to order plants each
year for the spring crop. Cabbage,
egg plant, pepper, tomato, sweet DO
tato, cucumber, squash and water
melon Steds may be sowed six to eight
weeks before danger of frost is over.
The plants are hardened off and
tranSplanted TO the field as soon as
SOIL and climatic conditions are right.
HotDedS and cold frames are of the
same dimensions, the only difference
IN their construction being that the
hotDedS are supplied with some form
OF bottom heat. The application of
heat transforms the cold frame into
hotbed, which is recognized as a
true forcing structure.
Locate frames convenient to the
house, at some point where members
of the family will pass each day. This
will insure attention. Select a we'll
drained location, one with a southern
or southwest exposure. Protection
from the north or west by some
building, fence, or wind-break is de-
Sirable. NearneSS to water suDDly is
also essential
ANY one handy with a hatchet and
, 80" will experience no difficulty in
constructing either Of these beds.
The back and front Of the frames are
made of 1X12-inch boards. All frames
are constructed in sections 3X6-
inches to conform to standard hot
bed sash. 1t will be necessary then
to place 2X2-inch planks every three
feet to support the sash. For hardy
plants canvas has been found to be as
valuable as glass. The chief obiec-
ton to canvas is that the LIGHT is eX-
cluded on real cold days. Canvas
will last only several years. while
sash, if properly cared for, may be
used indefinitely.
In constructing a hotbed, unfer-
mented manure is always used as a
source of artificial heat. Horse ma
nure is best; especially that obtained
from animals fed on grain. After
manure is packed in, from four to
! six inches OF rich garden loan is
added to tho frame. Sashes should
| then be placed on to hasten fermeD-
tation. Seeds are not planted until
the temperature in the beds has
fallen to rs to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Watering is an important factor.
Seedlings are often attacked by fun
| gus diseases due tC injudicious wa
| ter!ng. The only time to water plants
is in the early morning on fair days.
An application at night lowers the
| temperature unduly, thus making the
| plants more susceptible to disease at
| tacks. Vcntilate after each watering
| to dry foliage and surface Of soil To
ventilate, place block Of wood or a
| brick under each sash. If seed are
| sowed in drills that permit cultiva-
| tion, stir soil to maintain Il dust
| mulch.