The Monticellonian., 1917-11-23
COMMON SENSE HOT BED
By JOSEPHINE DE MARR.

At the very first stirring of the sap comes to most of us Il longing to see Dame Nature awake and go about her spring business. We eagerly look for the first signs of life Tn the naples and in the sheltered recesses of the woods under the dead leaves.
 When l feel the first hint of spring I start my hot bed. The illustration shows hotbed frame which l fash toned out of an old glass cupboard door, some old boards, q saw, ham, mer and nails. Critics may find fault with 1t but it has been decided sue cess and so I do not mind the verdict of the critics. Utility, not beauty, is my aim.
 The glass cover had done duty as cupboard door for many years and when the house was remedeled it was consigned to the attic until 1t was pressed into its present state of use fitness.
 The frame measures % inches high at the back and slopes down the sides to the front to 12 inehes the glass frame is fastened to the back with hinges. An excavation was dug by the man of the house and the frame placed upon it..
 The excavatien is eight or ten inches deeper than the frame, and the frame stands 12 inches above the soil at the back, and the front five inches. stout stake was driven into the four corners of the frame to support it.
 The bed is located south of the sum- mer kitchen, well-drained spot where ] it will get the sun all day.
 The earth is banked around the l frame and a ditch carries all the sur l face water away. Tn the meantime the heating material was prepared. l This was horse-manure gathered from 1 the stalls each day and put in cone shaped pile.
 One-third leaves were added to as- sist the manure to "sweeten." Manure alone Is too dense and will not fer ment properly unless leaves or straw or some such litter Is added.
 AS soon as the pile looked large enough to fill the frame 1t was allow ed to ferment evenly. When the mass was moist and steamlng 1t was put in- to the hotbed.
 Ii is impossible to give any hard and fast rule In preparing manure for the hotbeds for so much depends upon the composition and texture of the ma nure and the state of the weather.
 It is safe to say, however, that the pile must be worked over several times and when 1t is moist and warm 1t is ready for the frame.
 In the bottom of the excavation always place thin layer of cornstalks cut foot long for protection against the cold earth. When the manure is put In it nearly reaches the top of the soil then it is well tamped and after tamping, it should reach within ten inches of the top of the frame in front.
 In the vicinity of St Louis, Mo, eight inches of thoroughly prepared manure will heat n spring hotbed. The bed is then covered with the glass door and left to itself for few days
 Then five inches of fine, rich. well }llNiltli'h EolA .hhNh dfstaiii eAiN NY CT let down and the bed allowed to heat thermometer placed in 1t and when 1t registers S5 degrees the seeds are sown.
 Before sowing the seeds rake the Soil to destroy the weed seeds which have sprouted. Sow such seeds as to- matoes, cabbage, lettuce, peppers, etc, but be sure to reserve several rows for your flower seeds.
 Make the rows run north and south. Water the bed with q sprinkler having { very fine nose.
 The little seedlings are very delicate and care must be taken not to bake. starve or chill them. Too much heat is worse than too little, therefore il iS necessary to air the hotbed by open ing the frame when the sun shines and the weather Is warm.
 Water with fine hose when the soil looks light in color and is dry to the touch, Thin out the plants if they stand too thick.y in the row.
 When the plaats have attained two or three true leaves they must be transplanted into a cold frame. This made with the twin cupboard door.