The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1916-08-11
BIG PROFITS IN
EARLY HOT-BEDS
Do You Want Tomatoes in JuIy7
Then the Seeds Must be
Planted In January
START THE PLANTS EARLY
In the Great Tomato Growing Districts
Of West Tennessee the Earliest Cars
Bring the Highest Prlees-Plans to
Follow for Good Results.

tBy Charles A. Kef(er, Division Of
Extension. University OF Tsnnessee)
Do you want tomatoes : in July?
Then plant the seed ia a hot bed in
January; transplant in a hot bed Ia
February; transplant again in a spent
hotbed or q cold fame in March, and
set the twiCe-transplanted plants In
the field or the garden as soon as dan.
ger Of frost is past in April In the
great majority Of cases 1t is the early
plant that makes the big profit. Here
In Knoxville the frst homegrown to.
matoes on the market have been
known to bring Ave dollars a bushel
land the grower sold several bushels
at that price,, while the price went be-
low fifty cents bushel when the full
crop was on. In the great tomato
growing districts Of West Tennessee
the earliest cars bring the highest
prices. Start the plants early, and
keep them growing. To do this hot
bed Is necessary. Hot bed sash are
three by six feet in size, and should
have three rows OF glass per sash.
The bed should be six feet wide, and
any times three feet in length, It's size
depending on the number OF plants
to be grown. For a homo garden .
single sash will enable the gardener
to grow all early plants OF every kind
needed, but a hot bed six to twelve
feet long will be found the best size for
the home garden. In the Southern
counties of the state, and for late
beds, frames covered with canvas or
heavy sheeting can be used in place
OF glazed sash
ExcaVate pit eighteen to twenty.
four inches deep, running east and
west, and make frame OF boards to
At, the frame being six inches higher
on the north than on the south side.
Place two-by-fours from front to rear
for the sash or canvas frames to rest
on. For regulation sash the supports
should be three feet apart en- centers.
and the ends Of the frames should be
beYeled.
For heating, either q simple furnace,
with nue running the length of the
frame, or horse manure 10 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 q layer Of ma
nure SIX inches deep in the bottom Of
the pit and. tramp nrm. and continue
until twelve to eighteen inches of
tramped manure is in place. Then
cover with ave inches OF rich, loamy
soil. Place the sash, and when the
highest heat b passed--in About
week II conditions are fAvorabls.-the
bed viii be ready for ssedinS. Sew
seed in drilla three inches apart, and
cave abundant space for transpisnting.
Radish may b grown In twepty days
in the hotbsd. Use the RAPID Rad or
Icicle variety and drop the seed about
thres.Qusrters Of al inch part Head
lettuce, caulihower, pepper. eggplant
and tomato can be started In hOtbeds,
while beet and forcing CARROT can be
grown TO maturity In March SOW .
hill OF cucumber or csntsloupe 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 q few
minutes, and when the outside temper.
allure 10 90 degrees the sAsh may Dc
removed entirely. but the frames |
should be closed before the cool Of the
afternoon, a. = chilled plant will not |
thrive.
Care In watering and airing and Al.
tention 70 trsnsphating viii insure
stocky. vigorous plants fer the garden.
With q little experience the EardeAsP
will find the hotbsd constant source
of Satisfaction.