Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 92.djvu/463

 Popular Science Monthly

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��Hotbeds in Which Safely to Start Early Plants

IN the North, the most common method of starting early plants is by means of the hotbed. The hotbed consists of an inclosure covered with sash and supplied with some form of heat, usually ferment- ing stable manure, to keep the plants warm and in a growing condition. As a

���Typical hotbed made in the earth. It is framed to hold several sash for admitting the sun's rays and keeping out the cold at night

��rule, the hotbed should not be placed wdthin the garden inclosure, but near some frequently used path or building, where it can receive attention without interfer- ing with other work. The hotbed should always face the south. The south side of a dwelling, a barn, a tight board fence, a hedge, or of anything affording a similar protection, furnishes a good location.

The Department ot Agriculture in- structs that in the North, the hotbed should be started in February, or early in March, in order that such plants as the tomato and early cabbage may be well grown before it is time to plant them in the open ground. There are two or three forms of hotbeds that are worthy of description. The plans sug- gested may be modified to suit local conditions.

��location, where the bed will be sheltered, shake out the manure into a broad, flat heap, and thoroughly compact it by tamping. When compacted, the manure heap should be 8 or 9 ft. wide, 18 to 24 in. deep and of any desired length, according to the number of sash to be em- ployed. The manure for hotbed pur- poses should contain sufficient litter, such as leaves or straw, to prevent sogginess, and it should spring slightly when trodden upon.

After the manure has been properly tramped and leveled, the frames to support the sash are placed in position, facing to- ward the south. These frames are gen- erally made to carry 4 standard hotbed sash. The front board should be from 4 to 6 in. lower than the backboard so that

����Cross section of a temporary hotbed which is built entirely on the surface

A temporary hotbed, such as would or- dinarily be employed on the farm, is easily constructed. Manure from the horse stable can be used as a means of furnishing the heat. Select a well-drained

��A cross section of a permanent hotbed with heating material and soil below the earth's surface and within walls made up of boards

water will drain from the glass. When the frame is in position upon the manure, the surface hotbed will appear as shown in the illustrations. The area inclosed by the glass should be covered with a good garden loam or with a specially prepared soil, to a depth of 3 to 5 in. Then the sash is put on and the bed is allowed to heat. At first, the temperature of the bed will run rather high, but no seeds should be planted until the soil tempera- ture falls to 80 deg. F., which it will in about three days.

Hotbeds, having more or less per- manence, may be so constructed that they

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