METHODS UNDER GLASS 197 



The house was seventy by twenty feet, divided 

 into a center bed nine and one-half by sixty-two feet, 

 and two outside beds next to the wall, each three and 

 one-half feet wide. All seed was sown in rows four 

 inches apart. One outside bed was planted early in 

 March to radish and celery plants in alternate rows, 

 the radishes being harvested before the celery plants 

 needed the room. The other beds were planted to 

 lettuce, cauliflower, pepper, tomato, Prizetaker onion, 

 beet and cabbage seeds. About one hundred thousand 

 celery plants were grown on the one bed. Toward the 

 last of April, sods were inverted on the benches, on 

 which were planted cucumber and melon seeds. These 

 were set in the open ground about June i. 



The hot])ed should be placed on land always free 

 from flooding, and with good subsoil drainage, pro- 

 tected from the north and west winds and facing south 

 or southeast. The manure must be well handled, so 

 that the fermentation may be prolonged. Rich, fresh 

 horse manure gives a quick, fierce heat and soon sub- 

 sides. i\Iix it with leaves or half-rotten strawy put in 

 a pile and turn over two or three times at intervals of 

 two or three days to get it well heated throughout. 

 Put in the pit, tramp down firmly and evenly and put 

 on the sash. After the heat has subsided to ninety 

 degrees, put on four to six inches of soil, and when this 

 is well warmed up sow the seed in rows four to six 

 inches apart. Water with a fine hose and tepid water 

 as needed. Give air on pleasant days, and protect 

 during cold nights with a covering of salt hay, straw 

 mats or old carpets. 



A Farmer's Hotbed. — A hotbed such as is used 

 by a large number of gardeners and farmers is thus 

 described by J. E. Morse of Michigan, who won the 

 grand garden prize of seven hundred and fifty dollars. 

 The bed was six bv twelve feet, sunk two feet 



