AGRICULTURAL MECHANICS AND RURAL ECONOMY. 65 



plants. The sashes are now slid on, and the mats are placed on top, and a day or more 

 suffered to elapse, as may be required, so that the soil may have its temperature increased 

 sufficiently before sowing the seed, and become rather warm; this will have a tendency 

 to destroy many of those insects that feed on young plants. After this, the covers may 

 be taken off to permit the escape of steam, and drills are then made by means of the 

 garden rake, over which the seed is scattered broadcast, and the rake is then used to cover 

 it in. Some persons prefer not to make drills, but scatter the seed, and then sift some 

 fine soil over it. 



Young gardeners should make use of a thermometer to indicate temperature, which may 

 be hung inside of the deeper of the two side-boards of the frame, so that when a person 

 stands in front of the bed, it will be opposite to him. 



From the time of the seed germinating until the plants arrive at maturity, much care is 

 needed, for a very slight frost would be likely to prove injurious; but during mild days they 

 should be permitted to have plenty of fresh air, and generally a slight opening to let out 

 steam ; for if the bed overheats during the early growth of the plants, they will grow too 

 rapidly, and consequently be very tender. 



The proper temperature of the inside air is considered to be from 45° to 60° Fahren- 

 heit's thermometer, when positioned as described. 



After the plants shall have somewhat grown, they will be likely to require watering, and 

 care should be taken that the apertures of the rose of the watering-pot be very small, so 

 that the water in passing through may fall gently upon the plants. If the weather happens 

 to be very cold at the time they require water, it will sometimes be necessary to add a little 

 hot water, to take the chill off that about to be made use of. Moreover, during cold weather, 

 it will be necessary to water at noon, or soon after, but if mild, this may be done immedi- 

 ately before sunset. — Working Farmer. 



Employment of Cotton Waste in Hot-beds. 



At the Berlin Association for the Promotion of Horticulture, Prof. Cock made a commu- 

 nication about a substitute for horse-manure for generating heat in hot-beds, which, as a 

 productive of caloric, is far superior to the latter. This substitute is the refuse of cotton- 

 spinning mills. A bed prepared on the previous day had, when examined in the afternoon, 

 a temperature in its interior of not less than 113° of Fahrenheit. 



Hay-caps. 



A writer in the American Agriculturalist recommends to farmers the use of hay-caps, to 

 be prepared in the following manner: Stout, unbleached sheeting should be taken, from 

 thirty-six to forty-two inches wide ; the latter is the best, which should be cut into lengths 

 of forty to forty-five inches. To make forty of them (and no extensive farmer should have 

 less than 100) would require a gallon of linseed-oil, which should be simmered with four 

 pounds of beeswax, and a quart of japan added after it is taken from the fire. When cold, 

 the mixture should be about the thickness of lard in summer ; if not, more oil or more wax 

 may be added. The cloths should then be payed over, to use a sea expression, with the 

 hand or a small piece of shingle, on one side only, and then dried in the sun ; when dry, the 

 females of the family will cheerfully, and in a very short time, sew into each corner a stone 

 of the weight of about seven or eight ounces, which completes the affair. 



No hemming is required, as the wax and oil will keep the edges sufficiently firm. 



In respect to their economy and usefulness, the writer says : I do not think I am extrava- 

 gant in saying they will pay the cost in one season, and will last ten years if taken good 

 care of. Within a few days we have had one entire rainy day, when my neighbor's hay was 

 thoroughly soaked, while mine was as as safely covered as if it had been packed away in 

 the barn. My manager thinks that one-third of the cost of some new covers just made were 

 paid for on that day. 



"Large covers, made in the same manner, to cover the whole of a load of hay, with 

 heavier weights, of course, would also be an admirable protection against sudden showers." 



5 



