The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1921-04-15
IT HOME
BY c. c. STARRING
State Agricultural College, Bozeman
Locating the Home Garden.

northern Slopes Inlay De IIloic Suitoor
because moisture conditions are Otter
better on such slopes. Unless sol
conditions and exposure make it i'm
perative the home garden should b,
located neal the house where it cal
receive attention at odd times. Sucl
locations are more convenient Whel
gathering fresh vegetables for thu
table.
Where one has a choice of soil it i:
best to avoid extremes of heavy ant
light soils. Heavy soils are difficult
to work and do not provide satisfac.
tory conditions for most vegetables
Very light soils may blow, may be
lascking in fertility or may dry out
too quickly. A moderately sandy sol,
is best under most conditions although
where water is available for irriga,
ton, the lighter soils can often be
used to good advantage.
Selection and Preparation of Manure
for HOtbeds.
Well built hotbed frames and sash
are of little avail if the heating ele-
ment in a hotbed fails. A little care
in the selection and handling of the
heating element may mean the diff
ISIClS0 UCIWSSH SuSStSS dlu luiluiS'
Fresh horse manure should be Sc
cured and piled at some convenient
place near the hotbed. When the
pile begins to heat, particularly if
the heating is confined to one place,
it should be turned and the ferment-
ing manure thoroughly mixed through
the pile. The frequency and number
Of turnings will depend upon the
manure. Sometimes several turnings
are necessary before fermentation is
uniform throughout the pile, but or
dinarily one or two should be suffi-
cient. Violent heating may be check
ed by spreading the manure a little,
by mixing in straw, or by the adj
dition of water. Too much water
should not be applied, however, or
the heating value of the manure for
the hotbed will be impaired. The
turning process also will retard fire
fanging. If the manure is very pure,
the addition of one part straw to two
parts of manure is advisable as this
will prolong the heating period. Good
manure should not be soggy, it should
have some spring.
AS soon as the pile has started to
heat uniformity it should be placed
in the pit, which Should be filled to
within 6 inches of the top. Place
several inches at a time and tramp
well. If hot water is poured over
the manure, heating will be fastened.
Six inches of dirt should then be
placed over the top. A good soil can
be made by mixing two parts of loan.
n part sand and one part of we'll
rotted manure The work of planting
the seed and caring for the young
plants is much easier if the upper
inch or two of soil is sifted through
a screen with eight meshes to the
inch. If flats or boxes are used in
the hotbed, two or three inches of
soil instead of six inches should be
placed on top of the manure The
hotbed should be banked to keep the
cold away from the frame and to
shed water.
Care of the Hotbed.
Ventilation of the hotbed should
not be neglected. Day temperatures
OF IS to 70 degrees are best for plants
like tomatoes, peppers etc. and so to
60 degrees for cabbages and cauli-
flowers. On warm days lift the sash
before the hotbed gets too warm and
in the afternoon close the hotbed be-
fore it gets too cold. Avoid extremes
and sudden changes of the tempera-
ture.
The hotbed should be watered pre-
ferably in the morning on bright
sunny days of early spring. This gives
the foliage and the surface of the
soil an opportunity to warm up again
during the day. During the hot
weather late in the spring it may be
best to water in the evening. On
cloudy damp days, care should be ex-
ercised in watering. If the surface
OF the ground and atmosphere are
continually damp, the development of
"damping off" diseases is encourage
ed. AS the season for setting plants
in the field approaches leave the sash
off more and more each day until
finally they can be left off day and
night.
Planning the Garden.
A well thought out garden plan will
save time. labor. and space; it will in
sure planting different vegetables in
more nearly the proper proportions,
so far as the needs of the family are
concerned; and it will very often save
mistakes in regard to distances of
planting or arrangement of crops so
Tar as their compatibility is concern
ed, and say labor in caring for the
garden. 1t will usually be better to
plantcrops in rows rather than in the
old fashioned beds. If possible the
rows should be laid out to avoid fire.
quent turning so far as it is posi-
BILE. SO far as possible rows should
be a uniform distance apart as this
often saves time in adjusting tools.
Where hand wheel hoes are used rows
of small vegetables Is inches apart.
larger growing vegetables SO inches
apart and vines A to 6 feet apart.
Space is saved by planning practi-
cal companion cropping schemes. Rows
of early radishes, lettuce, green on
ions, or other crops that mature quick
iy can often be planted between rows
OF parsnips, carrots, rutabagos, cab
bages, or other crops occupying the
land during the entire summer but not
needing all the space during the early
part OF the season.. Late cabbage
or caullflower plants may be set a
mong rows of early peas and will
utilize the space after the pea are
out of the way. So far as possible,
crops maturing at about the same
time should be planted in the same
part of the garden. Crops that re-
quire about the same care in water
ing and cultivation should be grouped
together. Tomatoes, which should not
be irrigated late in the season. shouL1