The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1916-05-26
BIG PROF IN
EARLY bT-BEDs
Do You Want Te atoes in juIy7
Then the S.eas Must be
Plano IL January
START TIE aMTs EARLY
In the Great oHs. Growing Districts
Of West Tennessee the Earliest Cars
Bring the Ailahss priees--Plans to
Follow for Coed ssslts.

(By Charlie A. Defer Division Of
Extension, University Of Tennessee.)
Do. You want Dmatoes in July?
Then plant The SEED in hot bed in
January; transplas ID q hot bed in
February: transpl again in spent
hotbed or q cola anne in March. and
set the twics.tral a,lanted plants in
the field OF the gaGen IS soon as dan
ger of froi is past 10 April. In the
great majc -ity Of asses it is the early
plant that makes i q big profit. Here
in Knoxville tha first homegrown to-
matoes OF the market have been
known to bring fse dollars a bushel
land the rover Mold several bushels
at that pri e). whls the price went be-
low fifty Dents a teshel when the full
crop was on "A the great tomato
growing districts n West Tennessee
the earliest csrs bring the highest
prices. Start ,hi plants early, and
keep them grown TO do this hot
bed is necessaryf Hot bed sash are
three by six feet in size, and should
have three lows Of glass per sash.
The bed sholld b, six feet wide, and
any times three fet in length, its size
depending on ID number Of plants
to be grown. l1r home garden a
single sash viii ,nable the gardener
TO grow all early lants of every kind
needed, but hlt bed six to twelve
feet long will be lound the best size for
the home garden, In the Southern
counties of the state, and for late
beds, frames corered with canvas or
heavy sheeting tan be used in place
of glazed sash.
Excayate a pit eighteen TO twenty
four inches deep, running east and
west, and make b frame of boards to
fit, the frame being six inches higher
on the north than on the south side.
Place two-by-foufs from front to rear
for the sash or canvas frames to rest
on. For regulation sash the supports
should be three feet apart on centers,
and the ends of the frames should be
beveled.
For heating, either simple furnace,
with fiue running the length Of the
frame, or horse manure is used. The
manure should be turned from time to
time as collected, to prevent too rapid
heating and to secure even heating
throughout the mass. When ready to
make the bed. spread layer of ma
nure six inches deep in the bottom OF
the pit and tidp firm, and continue
until twelve to eighteen inches OF
tramped manure = in place. Then
cover with AVE. les OF rich, loamy
soil. Place thf Sash, and when the
highest heat Is passed-in about a
week If conditions are favorable-the
bed will be ri for seeding. Sow
seed in drills three inches apart and
save abundant space for transplanting.
.Radish may be grown in twenty days
in the hotbed. Use the Rapid Red or
Icicle variety and drop the seed about
three-quarters Of an inch part. Head
lettuce, cauliflower, pepper, eggplant
and tomato can be started in hotbeds,
while beet and forcing carrot can be
grown to maturity. In March SOW a
hill of cucumber or cantaloupe to each
sash for extra early fruits.
Give air freely during the heat Of
the day. Even in cold days the sash
should be raised very little for few
minutes, and when the outside temper.
AZURE is so degrees the sash may be
removed entirely, but the frames
should be closed before the cool Of the
afternoon. as chilled plant will not
thrive.
Care in watering and airing and at.
tention to transplanting will insure
stocky, vigorous plants for the garden.
With little experience the gardener
will find the hotbed constant source
If eatfsfantinn