164 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



exploring a six foot dynamited hole and 

 was astonished at the area loosened by the 

 explosion. The water follows the open 

 strata and stores up moisture, besides fo- 

 cusing drain channels to carry away the 

 surplus from over irrigation or too much 

 rain. A long tap root forms on most of 

 trees, and, the branches penetrating the 

 loose earth make such a formidable growth 

 that winds do not effect the trunks and 

 the trees grow straight. This method of 

 planting trees is not merely theoretical or 

 experimental but has been thoroughly 

 tested and found to be beneficial. When 

 once tried the fruitgrowers will always use 

 dynamite. 



sun shine in a day or two. Haul enough 

 fresh horse manure and pile in a pyramid 

 beside the hole, to fill to within six inches 

 of the top of the ground. When the 

 manure begins to smoke fork it over and 

 let heat again. 



Fill the pit to within six inches of the 

 top with the manure and tramp well, after 

 which add six inches of dry soil, leaf mold 

 or new creek bottom land, free from weed 

 seed, is the. best. Around this, with the 

 edges against the banks and reaching down 

 into the soil, construct a frame of logs or 

 boards, according to convenience. Have 

 the front or side open to the sun, extend 

 eight inches or more above the ground, 



MANAGING A COLD FRAME. 

 Every spring I receive many inquiries 

 about the building and managing of a cold 

 frame for starting such plants as cabbages 

 tomatoes, peppers and sweet potatoes 

 The same answers must be given in every 

 case, and, as the questions are beginning 

 to come in, I give my plan for what some 

 call an outdoor hotbed. Select a warm 

 spot on the south or east side of the fence, 

 barn or outhouse, where the bed will be 

 sheltered from north winds. About six 

 weeks from the time plants can be safely 

 transplanted without danger from frost, 

 make the frame and sow the seed. If sev- 

 eral varieties of plants are desired the bed 

 should be large enough to hold all within 

 one cover, hence for the ordinary farm 

 garden I would make the frame twelve 

 feet long and six feet wide. Dig this 

 space into a pit two feet deep and let the 



and the back double that, to give a good 

 pitch to the cloth roof. Nail a four inch 

 board or scantling, on the ends and sides 

 to make a closed frame. Tack a cloth of 

 the necessary length and width to the 

 board at the highest side, and to a slim 

 pole at the lower or front side. The cloth 

 I use is ordinary white sheeting cut into 

 two strips of four yards each, and sewed 

 together lengthways, making a cover the 

 size of the frame. After getting the cover 

 arranged and the sides and ends banked 

 up with earth put in two inches of dry 

 sandy loame for the seed bed. If left 

 covered this will heat in about two days 

 when the frame is jeady for planting. 



Small seeds are best planted in rows, 

 which can be made by drawing a stick 

 across the bed, bearing down hard enough 

 to make the mark one half an inch or 

 more in depth. Drill the seed thickly, 



