The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-03-05
TREASURE STATE FARM and LIVESTOCK
to Build a HOtbed for
Your FHOme Garden Plot

some w%ell-rOtted manure and hOtbed
sash are the essential materials need
ed. The manure is the material
which supplies the necessary heat
and therefore is of particular import
ance
The preparation of the manure for
the hotbed should begin two or three
weeks before the time for seed to be
planted. Fresh horse manure should
be secured and piled at some cOnven-
lent place near the hOtbed. When
the pile begins to heat, particularly
if heating is confined to place,
it should be turned and the ferment-
ing manure thoroughly mixed in the
pile. The frequency and number of
turnings will depend upon the man
ure. Several tUrnings are some
times necessary before fermentation
is uniform, but ordinarily one or
two will be found sufficient. Violent
heating may be checked by spreading
out the manure a little, by mixing in
straw or by the addition Of a little
water. Too much water should not
be applied, however, or the heating
value of the manure will be impaired
The turning process will also retard
fire fanging. If the manure is very
pure, the addition of one part Of
straw to two parts manure is adj
visable as this will prOlOng the heat
ing period Good manure should not
be sOggy; it should have some spring.
While the manure is being pre-
pared the hOtbed may be construct
ed. It should be located convenient
to water, where it will receive the
greatest amount of sunlight and be
sheltered from cold winds. The
south side of a building, board
fence or hedge is usually a suitable
location.
The pit should be dug about two
and a half feet deep. This will in
sure heat for about six or eight
weeks. If a longer heating period
is desired the pit should be deeper
1T is we'll to make the width and
length of the hOtbed conform to the
size and number of sash to be used
Where but one or two sash arr USED
it is we'll to extend the pit a foo
beyond each side of the frame, par
ticularly where the hOtbed is to bt
started early.
It is best to use hOtbed sash, which
can be bought through lumber deal
ers or made by a carpenter. The sasl
should have no more eros bars thai
necessary as the bars shut out tn
light. Paper and cloth substitute
flor glass should not be used in Sc
we're weather. Those who wish to tr
lsuch substitutes can secure direction
from the Montana Experiment Sta
ton at BOzeman.
The frame of the hOtbed shout
reach to the bottom of the pit an
extend II inches above the grOun
ON one side and six inches above til
ground on the other to provide tn
proper slope. For the small hottie
the pit should be large enough
prOVide a foot of manure between tn
frame and the walls of the pit. Whe
the pit is two and a half feet deeI
= manure should be put in to a dept
of two feet. The manure should b
put in a small amount at a time an
tramped down carefully. A little he
water poured on the manure wi
hasten heating Six inches of so
should be placed on top of the mai
ure to bring the level even with IL
surface of the ground. Planting
made easier if the upper two or thrC
inches of soil is sifted through
screen with eight meshes to the inc
If flats are to be used only two
three inches of soil should be place
on the manure. The frame should
banked with earth to provide pr
Election and drainage.
After the soil has been placed
the hOtbed the sash should be put
: place and allowed to stand for a fe
days until the temperature settl
? down to 80 to IS degrees. The Sc
may then be planted.