Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-11-30
All These Vegetables c;
COMMON SENSE HOT BED
BY JOSEPHINE DE MARR.

BY JOSEPHINE DE MARI.
At the very first stirring of the sap
comes to most of US a longing to see
Dame Nature awake and go about her
;pring business. We eagerly look for
he first signs of life in the naples
md in the sheltered recesses of the
woods under the dead leaves.
When feel the first hint of spring
start my hot bed. The illustration
'hows a hotbed frame which I fash
oned out of an old glass cupboard
loor, some old boards, q saw, ham,
ner and nails. Critics may find fault
With it but it has been q decided sue
cess and so do not mind the verdict
Of the critics. Utility, not beauty, is
my aim.
The glass cover had done duty as a
cupboard door for many years and
when the house was remodeled it was
consigned to the attic until it was
pressed into its present state of use
fulness.
The frame measures % inches high
at the back and slopes down the sides
to the front to II inches; 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 1t.
The excavation is eight or ten inches
deeper than the frame, and the frame
stands II inches above the soil at the
back, and the front five inches. A
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 win get the sun all day.
The earth is banked around the
frame and ditch carries all the sur
face water away. In the meantime
the heatine material was prepared.
This was hOrse-manure gathered from
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 it was allow
ed to ferment evenly. When the mass
was moist and steaming it was put in.
to the hotbed.
1t 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.
1t is safe to say, however, that the
pile must be worked over several times
ready for the frame.
| In the bottom of the excavation
always place thin layer Of cornstalk:
cut foot long for protection agains
the cold earth. When the manure i:
| put in it nearly reaches the top Of thu
soil then it is well tamped and aftel
tamping, it should reach within tel
inches Of the top Of the frame il
front.
In the vicinity Of st. Louis, Mo.
eight inches of thoroughly prepared
manure will heat a spring hotbed
The bed is then covered with the glas
door and left to itself for a few days
Then five inches of fine, rich, wei
prepared soil is added; again the Gov
er let down and the bed allowed t
heat; a thermometer placed in it an
when it registers S5 degrees the seed
are sown.
Before sowing the seeds rake tn
soil to destroy the weed seeds whic
have sprouted. Sow such seeds as tt
matoes, cabbage, lettuce, peppers, etc
but be sure to reserve several row
for your flower seeds.
Make the rows run north and Soutl
Water the bed with a sprinkler havin
a very fine nose.
The little seedlings are very delicat
and care must be taken not to bak
starve or chill them. Too much hes
is worse than too little, therefore it
necessary to air the hotbed by opel
ing the frame when the sun shine
and the weather is warm.
Water with fine hose when the so
looks light in color and is dry to tt
touch. Thin out the plants if the
stand too thickly in the row.
When the plants have attained tN
or three true leaves they must
transplanted into a cold frame. TIL
l made with the twin cupboard doc