Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-12-16
HOT BEDS.
important for Early Vegetables and
for Starting PIants-How to
Build,

This is the time to make prepara-
tons for hotbeds. The ground will
soon be frozen. Therefore those who
plan to put in hOtbeds should get
about it as soon as possible. EXcava-
ton at least should be made immedi-
ately. In choosing a location for a
hotbed. one should consider the
source of an adequate water supply
whether it is near at hand or not or
whether running water can be pro-
Vided. great deal of water is need
ed for the beds during the season and
this is of great Importance.
In addition to having water near by,
one should also consider the need of
having the hotbeds in convenient 10
cation to the farm buildings. During
the late winter and early spring
months, these beds demand a good
deal of attention and it is quite es-
sential that they be near the home
where members of the family can at
tend to them if necessary. Also a pot
ting room where one can do trans
planting should be handily located.
The beds should be perfectly protect
ed from the severe weather and the
west winds. This protection can oft
entimeS be most secured by locating
near buildings. When necessary, it
can be accomplished by constructing
board walls about six feet high on the
north and westerly side of the bed
location.
If several hotbeds or cold frames
are used, they should run parallel
with a space of three or four feet be-
tween them for convenience in remov-
ing sash and mats. Beds should not
be more than 80 feet in length with
out a break unless for special rea-
sons such as high-priced land. These
breaks are necessary for a place upon
which to put the mats and sash.
Natural drainage should, of course,
ha considered oJnncr with +hpSn
points. The beds should not be To-
Gated where there is not good natural
drainage or artificial drainage cannot
be easily obtained. Most hotbeds in
this section are heated by heat from
the fermentation of manure. There
fore it will be necessary to dig the
beds quite deep. From II to IS inch
es of manure are placed in each bed
with 4-6 inches of dirt on top of that.
A space of 6-10 inches is left between
the surface of the soil and the glass
for air and space for the plants to
grow. This therefore means that the
beds should not be less than "a inches
deep and generally nearly 80 inches.
They are always six feet wide as the
sashes are six feet by three feet They
are therefore in length some multiple
of three feet to accommodate the sash
The back part of the bed is raised
six feet higher than the front in or
der that there may be good water
drainage on the sash and also so that
the suns rays will reach all plants in
the bed.
Beds should face the south
wherever possible. Dirt or manure is
banked around the back part of the
bed to give protection. The frame of
the bed is generally made of wood
although concrete is coming into quite
general use. Two-inCh chestnut plank
is good to use. Two to four inch
chestnut or locust posts are used in
corners and every six feet along the
| front and back. Cross pieces are
| placed across the top from front to
back every six feet to keep the sides
from caving in. These cross pieces
should never be larger than two by
| three inches as they would otherwise
| shade the ground.
After this part of the hotbed prepa-
ration is completed this fall the rest
| of the work can be done through the
| winter or early spring such as the
| glazing and painting of the sash,
making of mats. preparation of sta
| bic manure, soil, etc. 1t might be
| well. however, to have available a suf-
| tfcient amount of good loan to be used
! for the soil il the bed. This might
| be soil which has been composted for
| several months of rich garden soil
| mixed with Weilrotted stable manure.
| Some Of the advantages of hotbedS
| are that summers are to short to ma
! ture profitabiy some of our crops such
| as caGlifowers, celery, egg plants,
! tomatoes, etc. Vegetables placed on
| tie market before their normal sea-
| son bring good prices. Some vege-
tables when started early such as to-
| matoes produce much larger crops.
| Crops started under glass grown in
| the field oftentimes escape many of
| the fungus troubles by being early.
! The league recommends that city
people as well as others make plans