The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-03-20
THE HOTBED; HOW
TO MAKE 1T
BY F. M. HARRINGTON
HorticuIturist, Montana State Colleg

PvHE HOTBED should be conven.
iently located nea water anC
~ where it can have as much bene.
cit from sunlight as possible and be
sheltered from cold winds, particu-
larly from the north. The south
side of a building, board fence or
hedge is generally suitable. Do not
locate where drainage water will col
Iect in the pit as water soaked man
ure will not heat.
Hotbeds are generally made two
and a half feet deep, which is usually
sufficient to last for six to eight
weeks. The length and width depend
upon the requirements. If only one
or two sash are used it is we'll to ex-
tend pit one foot beyond framework
TO insure more uniform tempera-
lures.
Sash for hotbeds can be made II
can be purchased through dealers.
The most desirable sash should not
have more than one cross bar and
some prefer them without any. Els
pecially treated cloth or paper may
be used as a substitute for glass but
does not give as good results, parti-
eularly during cold weather. If
there is some old sash about the
place, the hotbed may be made to
conform to the size of the sash.
1.-THE framework of the hotbed
should extend six inches above the
ground on one side and IL inches on
the other, although for tall growing
plants which will have a comparative
Iy long growing period in the hotbed
the height should be increased to 10
and 16 inpbpc niffQpQOf fOmnara-
lures may be maintained in the hot
bed by partitioning off sections of
the hotbed and placing a board I'M
der the sash.
1.-THE preparation of manure for
the hotbed should begin two or three
weeks before the seed is planted.
Fresh horse manure is most desirable
and should be piled at a convenient
place nea 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 %throughly mixed into the
pile. Sometimes several turnings are
necessary before fermentation is uni
form through the pile, but ordinarily
one or two turnings are enough. To
prevent too violent heating a little
water may be added, or a little straw
may be mixed with the manure or the
manure nay be spread out on the
ground. If the manure is very rich
a little straw is advisable.
When the has heated uni
fOrmly it should be placed in the hot $
bed pit and tramped down. The pit
should be filled to within six inches {
of the top. A little hot water poured S
over the manure will hasten heating. ?
The top six inches of the pit should a
be filled with good soil, or if flats g
are to be used, three inches of soil L
Is enough. Dirt may be banked
around the frame of the hotbed as a
further protection against cold and
to provide drainage. b
AFTER the manure and soil has e
been placed in the pit, sash should e
put in position and allowed to +
stand for several days until the first c;
ugh temperatures have receded to e.
bout 80 or 85 degrees, at which K
seed may be planted. Proper 81
'entilation of the hotbed is very i'm =
.ortant because if too much moisture a
ccumulates in the air under the &C
arm conditions, a disease known as q
amping off is likely to prove trou- o.
lesome. For plants requiring great III
r warmth, such as tomatoes and pr
day temperatures of IS to p'
. degrees are best, while harder pl
lants prefer temperatures of so to
0 degrees. During cold nights the A.
otbed should be covered. Old bIan- y
cts, sacks sewed together or straw
AXE good covering material"