Year: 1875

1t Is time to make preparations for start
ing early vegetable plants. In the more
Northern States the season is none too
long for the maturing of many OF our most
valuable kinds Of animal fruits and vege-
tables, and if one desires the enjoyment of
these, extended several weeks or months,
it become necessary to start the plants
quite early in Spring. The most general
method of doing this is that of forcing In
hot-beds. These should be located on dry
ground. and if against the south side Of
building or tight board fence, greater heat
will be secured and more equable tenn.
perature can be preserved than in more
exposed situations. The method of pre-.
pairing hot-bed may be briefly as fol-
lows:


The first thing to be secured Is the re-
quisite number of glazed sash, the usual
size being three feet wide by six long.
The glass used may be six inches wide
and eight to twelve long, or larger, but
small sizes are less expensive and not so


liable to breakage. The bars upon which
the glass rests run lengthwise Of the sash,
there being no crossbars, as in common
window sash, but the glass overlap some
what like the shingles on roof.


This not only adds to the strength. but
insMes the shedding of water which falls
upon it. Fresh horse manure Is the mate
rial most generally employed for generat-
ing heat, and this should be secured some
time before it is desired for US. That
which is taken fresh from the stable, from
day to day, is best, and it should be put
under cover, or, ii left out, placed in con-
ical heaps in order to prevent being soaked
with with water, which will prevent rapid
Fermentation, so necessary to the genera
tion of heat


If leaves can be had, these may be
mixed in with the manure, and the entire
heap forked over occasionally in order to
secure homogeneous mass. If the beds
to be located on dry, porous soil. where
there will be no danger of water remain
ing in any excavations made. then pit
foot or two in depth may be made of the
size proposed for the hot beds. and the ma
nure thrown in at the proper time, other
wise it is best to make the bed on the sur
face.


Frames should be made of plank, and
as wide a the sash are long, and OF a
length to correspond with the number Of
sash to be employed. A handy frame is
one that will hold the sash-say nine feet
or little over in length. with blocks
nailed ia the corners to hold the plank
firmly in place. The front plank may be
about six or eight inches wide, and the
back one twelve to fourteen


This will give the sash the necessary an
gle 10 insure the passing off of the wa
ter which may fall upon them.


When all these preparations have been
made the manure may be put in place,
carefully spreading it in layers, pressing
it down gently with the back of fork or
spade, but not treading upon it with the
feet The manure should not be less than
eighteen inches in depth to secure good
and prolonged heat, and two feet is still
better. The manure heap should be lit
tie longer and wider than the frames
which are to be placed upon it when fin
ished. AS soon as the manure has been
placed in position, set the frames upon it
and put on the sash, closing tightly. A
quantity of good fliable and rich soil should
be obtained if it has not already been Sc
cured, and kept in readiness for use when
required. The hot-bed should be exam
ined daily, and as soon as fermentation
has raised the temperature to eighty or
ninety degrees, soil to the depth of four to
six inches, carefully pulverized, at this
time should be put on and raked level and
smooth. In two or three days this mass
of earth will have become warmed through
after which the seeds may be sown.


From this time forward careful attention
will be required. If the heat become too
strong during the middle of the day, the
sashes must be raised sufficiently to give
air and lower the temperature Also wa
ter must be applied when requied, and in
cold nights when required, and in cold
nights the frames must be covered with
straw mats, old carpets or some similar
materials to keep out the frost.


AS the plants advance in size 1t may be
necessary to raise the entire frames few
inches, banking up with fresh manure at
the same time Also as the transplanting
season approaches, give more air during
the day in order to harden the plants and
prepare them for removal to the garden.


Early cabbages, tomatoes. peppers and
similar plants may be started during Feb
uary and March, and it is now none too
early to begin preparations for the almost
indispensable hOt.bed