Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1917-11-23
COMMON SENSE HOT BED
sy JOSEPHINE De MARI.

At The very first stirring OF the sap
@'sncs to most OF us longing to see
Pane Nature awake and 30 about her
yring business We eagerly look for
Ne frst signs OF HE In the NIPPLES
Dad In the sheltered recesses of the
snods uuder the dead leaves.
Shen feel the first hint of spring
start my hot bed. The illustration
Cows h0thed frame which fash.
oned out OF an old glass cupboard
fsor, some old boards, Il saw, ham
ncr and mills, Critics may ind fHult
Nth II but 1t has been u decided sue.
mes; snd 80 do not mind the verdict
NJ the critics Utility, not beauty, Is
ny aim.
The glass cover had done duty MS 4
cupboard door fos mnny years and
shen the house was remodeled II was
noaigned to the attic until Il WINS
sscssed into It's present state OF use.
nineas.
The frame measures - lnche. high
4 The back and slopes down the sides
- the front to IL inches; the glnSs
'rsuI@ Is fastened to the back with
hinges. An excavation was dug by
nc nan Of the house and the frame
slaced upon Il.
The excavation Is eight or ten inches
ieVper than the frame, and the frame
stands u inches above the soil At tue
socs, and the front five inches. \
tout stake was driven into the four
Orners Of the frame to support Il.
The bed ia located south Of the SUN.
rtr Kitchen well-dralned spot where
: will get the sun all day.
The earth Is banked around the
frame and a ditch currles all the sur.
ACE water awny In the meantime
ne heating material was prepared.
This was horse-manure gathered from
The stalls each day and put In cone.
shaped Pile.
oDp-tllird leaves were added 10 ma.
sist the manure to "sweeten." Manure |
alone is too dense and viii not fer.
nent properly unless leaves or straw
" nome such litter Is added
IA soon as the pile looked iarge
enuugh TO fIl the frame II was allow.
ID 10 ferment evenly. When the mass
weS moist and steanlng Il vas put IN.
Ia the hOthed.
II Is Impossible to give any hard and
hss rule In preparing manure for the
aothess for 81 much depends upon the
N'mposttIoe and texture Of the ina.
lnre and the state Of the wenther.
y is- s,fe 70 say, however. That the
arsMust - sepfised ever several times
mi wasn 1t Is moist and warm It Is
esdy for The frame.
10 the bottom of the excavation |
.fwuys place n thin layer Of cornstaks
az a foot long for protection RgnlnSt
he cold earth. When the manure Is
,ut In Il nearly reaches the top of the
,osl; then It Is well tamDed and after
smping, II should reach within ten
inches OF the top of the frame 10
ronf.
In the vicinity of st. Louis, Mo-,
sghs inches Of thoroughly prepared
manure will heat spring h0tbed.
rSe bed Is then covered with the glass
Inor and Left to Itself for few days.
Then Ave inches OF fine. rich, well
prepared soil Is added; again the COW
r let down and the bed allowed to
ieAt; a thermometer placed In 1t and
then II registers S. degrees the seeds
re s0wn.
Before sowing the seeds rake the
oil 10 destroy the weed seeds which
ave sprOuted. Sow such seeds as to-
1utoes, cabbage, lettuce, peppers. etc,
NJ be sure to reserve several rows
er your flower seeds. I
Make the rows run north and south.
gater the bed with sprinkler having
very fine nose.
The little seedlings are very delicate
mi care must be taken not to bake
txrve or chill them. Too much heat
, worse than too little, therefore II Is
ecessary to mir the hotbed by open.
ag the frame when the sun shines
nd the weather Is warm.
Water with fine hose when the soil
seks light In color and Ii dry to the
cach Thin out the plants II they I
tand too thlckly In the row.
When the plants have attained two ,
. three true leaves they must be
into cold frame. This
made with the twin cupboard door