STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 235 



until about the middle of April, when they are ready to leave the hot 

 house and to try the compost bed. 



The method of forming the compost bed is a point I shall have to 

 explain; it is made of stable manure hauled during winters, and the 

 deeper the better. I place my frames on this and fill them in with 

 earth five or six inches deep; place on sash; in a day or so the dirt is 

 warm; then use all the care possible in setting out the plants. Tn 

 have root whole set with eare; leave sash off al! the time it is safe, 

 giving the tops all the aii* you can. The under heat will take care of 

 the roots, although it may seem to a new beginner too much. 



If you give them the proper attention, by the tenth or twentieth of 

 May you will have No. 1 plants, heavy roots, full tops with buds and 

 even blossoms. I have had them well set with tomatoes before set- 

 ting them out in the field 



They are now ready for the next place, which should have been 

 chosen with care on a light, sandy soil, sloping to the south, should 

 be well worked and manured. The last plowing I have done on the 

 day I set them out, and I give it a good top dressing; then thoroughly 

 drag it. About 4 P. m set your plants, which must be well watered 

 the previous night. Before taking up the ground must be saturated, 

 then in the morning lift each one from the bed with plenty of earth; 

 press gently between two hands the earth in a ball; place in a cool 

 cellar in boxes until setting out in the afternoon; or even the next 

 afternoon they will keep damp and fresh treated in this way. Of 

 course after a shower is" the best time; but do not wait for that as they 

 will do well without. 



Now I have one hand go with narrow spade and spade holes about 

 six inches deep, another hand with water, a pint or more to each hole; 

 another hand drops the plant in the hole, and the last one places the 

 plant aright, firmly settles the dirt and the plants will not even wilt; 

 your first buds are sure of fruit unless the frost takes them, which at 

 the twentieth of May seldom happens, although I had a whole field of 

 them cut down after this date. 



The cultivator should be started soon, even in a day or two, and 

 often used. 



The compost bed is used for lettuce and other early things. When 

 so used a tight board fence is placed around it and the hogs have it 

 for the summer to work and root it. When fall comes I have a fine 

 bed of manure, well rotted and worked over, ready to haul on the 

 land to make room for a new compost bed. 



