330 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
be especially applicable to the dry prairie regions of the state, 
I have found it very valuable. 
Mr. Wilcox: I would like to have Prof. Green explain a 
little about his hotbed. 
Prof. Green: Well, when you want to make a hot-bed do 
not wait until the spring that you wish to use it, but begin in 
the fall of the year. Now, I presume you all know about the 
frame and sash, &c., so I will begin with the bed itself. As I 
said before, begin in the fall of the year by keeping the soil 
covered, so that you will have no frozen soil in the hotbed. 
The best covering for such a purpose is horse manure, to which 
I always add some leaves or straw; otherwise the heat would 
be violent for a little while and then run down. Leaves are 
more satisfactory than straw. When I make the bed, I never 
use more than two feet of manure, and seldom over a foot. 
Still, if it was along this time of the year, would not think two 
feet too much. If I wanted to start a lot of celery plants, I 
would start with a sash or two. These could be easily taken 
care of and. transplanted in beds that could be made up 
later. I will say farther, that the manure should be heated 
before it is put in the bed. In putting it in the frame I pack 
it as hard as I can, especially around the edges; and sometimes 
I have even tramped it a little. The soil in the box is thrown 
out into a little pile and covered up with manure for a few days 
until I want to use it. I then put the soil baek upon the ma- 
nure. I use from four to six inches. When I plant lettuce I 
use four inches. I generally use leaves to keep the ground 
from freezing. My frame is of 2x10inch plank. I cover it with 
litter and leaves in sufficient quantity to keep out the frosts. 
Dr. Frisselle: Where will the farmer who lives on the prai- 
rie get his leaves? 
Prof. Green: Well, let him use chaff, straw, manure or 
anything of that kind. 
Mr. Sampson: I would ask Prof. Green if he could not sug: 
gest some way by which farmers who so desired could 
have hotbeds the coming spring. Ido not prepare my hot- 
beds until spring, when I get them ready as fast as 1 want 
them. 
Mr. Cutler: Our friend Allen piles up the manure on the 
surface and sets boards around it, instead of digging a deep 
trench. 
Prof. Green: Sometimes I practice another method. I use 
a sash six feet by three feet, which size I consider the best. I 
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peal NY 
