Norwich bulletin., 1917-10-18
AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS
HOW TO MAKE
 AND USE A HOTRED Where Many of the Early Crops Can Started-Diq Pit Next Month.

Those who desire very early garden products next spring, need to make the start before the ground is frozen hard this fall. Make the frame for the hot bed and dig the pit in Novem- Der. If you do this you may have early crops of radish and lettuce, and also start a few hills of corn by plant ing in inverted sod or strawberry box es, putting these in the hot bed until danger of frost is passed. Then, too, the early cabbage plants, early to- mato. peppers and egg plants may be started here.
 Later in the season this same hot led may be used for cucumbers and for growing early celery.
 In locating the hot bed seek some protected place, as on the south side of a building or along a stone wall or on a southern slope. On slope a terrace may be formed and the pit a depression, this will fill with water and then all the labor will be in vain. If the hot bed can be near a water supply 1t will save labor In carrying water for the plants.
 AS the frame above ground is to be, say, x 12 feet. this will need some support to keep it from falling into the pit. It is best to dig the pit about make a shoulder for it's support. Then for the sized hot bed mentioned this pit would be , feet inches II feet inches. The depth of the pit will the time of year through which the lot bed Is to be in operation. If you wish to start n February and run till danger of frost is past. the pit should the sides slope little there will not be so much caving in frost action. When this Is dug, set the frame over it and fill pit with leaves. These will not fill with ice and snow badly and can be taken out any time in the winter when operations are to begin. When operations begin in the spring throw the leaves where they may be put in compost heap to help form vegetable fertilizer with other man. ures. Then fill the pit with manure after the following plan:
 Some horse manure, fresh from the stable. should be piled up to set 1t fermenting evenly. When steaming of the first pile becomes the outside of tEe new pile. In about seven days, this will steam again, when it should be put into the pit; well 1eveled and five inches Of the surface of the ground. On this manure. place three or four inches -or rich soil, full of hu- mus, making the surface of soil in the the land outside. Wet down we'll, put on sash, and let stand a few days till the heat begins to subside.
 When, by running the hand down into the soil. you see that it has begun to cool, seeds may be safetly planted CT even young plants if you have them. Rows of radish and lettuce seed may then be planted eight inch es apart A part row of cabbage. a part row of tomato and some peppers should be put in about the middle of March. Space these rows eight inch es apart, also.
 A few hills of corn in strawberry boxes may be added in April and about the twentieth of April, few l hills of cucuml)ers in boxes. At the | same time a few musk melons may 1 be planted. l
 Later in the season, after the early | De planted to celery. using some of | he easy blanching. varieties like ] Golden Self Blanching or White l Plume. This planted six inches apart l ke light sufficiently to bleach and no i 7irt will be required. All that a fam ly of four will require may thus be | grown
 The hot bed will not care for itself. gut a little effort at the right time | will enable ons to get very good re- suits. When watering, do not give | frequent light waterings but apply enough water 70 soak the soil well and | hen withhold for a few days till the
 
 lash water on heavily. A small wa ering pot which most farms have will lnswer well for this work.
 The glass or cover should not be eft on all the time. The temperature inside will be so high if this is done hat plants will become weakened, ust as a person Is, who never has Tesh mir. So 1t will be necessary learly every day to raise the sash a title to let in fresh air and to cool if the air inside. We do not want reat variations of heat. This will elp to keep 1t even. As evening ap- roaches the afr outside becomes cool r. and the sash should be raised g ain to hold the heat that Is coming rom the decaying manure.
 Do no watering just at evening. It 5 better to do this in the morning ours when the temperature is ris- ng. ~Avoid extreme variations and ou will be successful blanket at night in extremely cold V