El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-02-06

construction is very simple, the time
element required is small, and the cost
is but little.
Construction of HOtbeds.
Make an excavation about - inches
deep, three feet wide, and five or
six feet long on the south side Of a
farm building, or even board or lot
fence. The south exposure is warmest
and helps to protect the hotbed from
frost and cold. Wall it up with boards
place about. a six inch layer of fresh
horse manure in the bottom and cover it
with earth. Fresh woods earth IS
best if it is available. When the heat
from the manure warns the soil above
it to a terminating or growing tenn
perature. place the seed or tubers or
the vegetables to be grown for early
transplanting in the warm layer OF
earth. Watch the hOtbed closely. If
too much heat is generated and the
soil becomes too hot make an opening
through the manure in one or more
places TO let the surplus heat escape.
Always cover with boards at night
and if the day is bad leave it covered.
II there is danger of frost throw an
old carpet over the boards. Sweet
potatoes cabbage and tomatoes are
usually started in hotbeds.
Construction Of Seed Boxes.
A seed box may be made of any box
Of convenient size. 1t should be at
least six inches deep and should be
seed and place the box in a warm, sun
ny place If the nights are cool and
there is the slightest danger of a frost
the box should be taken in the house.
The seed-box is often kept in the east
or south window of the living room.
It loses its name when so placed and
becomes a window box, but it works
just as well under one name as another.
The warm. even temperature Of the
living room with the proper amount
i've
to the growth of strong, healthy
plants for transplanting. Tomatoes,
cabbage peppers, plant, lettuce,
etc, are frequently started this way.
Planting and TrunSplantfng.
Having prepared and fertiliZed the
plot as early in the season as possible
no further preparation is necessary
until planting time. The ground
should be stirred and laid off in rows
for planting. The hardy vegetables
such as lettuce, Tadishes, mustard,
turnips, beets. carrots. parsley. par
ships, peas, etc, may be planted very
early, even before the last light
freezes of early spring Plant in rows
using a lire to get them straight
Rows running north and south afford
the best exposure to sunlight. DO not
place the rows too close together. 1t
is in1DosSi Bile TO cultivate SATISFACTORY
" between rows closer than one foot
apart Open the furrOw for planting
with the sharp corner OF a hoe, taking
care not to plant too deep. A depth
three times the greatest width or
length of the seed is a safe rule to fol
low. Cover the seed with a rake and
pack the soil lightly. In transplant
ing vegetab les. thoroughly wet the
sol in the seed-box before removing
the plants to avoid breaking the tiny
feeding roots. Open the soil in the
garden either with the hand or with
a sharp stick and set the plant a little
deeper than it stood before. Press
the soil firmly around the roots and
water thoroughly unless the ground is
wet from previous rain. Transplant
ing should always be done late in the
afternoon.
Cultivation and Watering.
Cultivate the garden thoroughly.
Keep the surface loose. If the mulch
or loose surface soil is kept intact