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bulk of line mold. This should be done sufficiently early 

 to secure proper maturity to the plants in time for trans- 

 planting- (by the last of February or early in March 

 south of the Ohio, and about the lirst of April north of 

 it), covering lightly and completely rolling or treading 

 down the earth. The plant appears in fifteen or twenty 

 days, and will be fit for transplanting in six or eight 

 weeks." 



From the Prairie Farmer of January 3, 1863, by J. 

 Feriam : 



" About the 1st of April, the hot-beds should be pre- 

 pared thus: Having previously drawn sufficient fresh 

 heating horse manure into a conical pile, and turned it 

 at intervals of three days, to get the rank heat out of it, 

 mixing the dry and wet together, a space should be 

 cleared fifty feet long and eight feet wide, upon which 

 proceed to lay up the manure about sixteen inches high; 

 spread it evenly, long and short, patting it down from 

 time to time with the fork, to discover the soft places 

 and make it pretty firm. To heat properly, the manure 

 should be uniformly moist; if too dry, it should have 

 been moistened while in the heap. If that has been 

 neglected, it may be done at the time of making the bed. 

 Frames should have been prepared by nailing boards on 

 posts, which may be sixteen inches for the back by 

 twelve inches for the front. 



The frames, when finished, should be of sufficient 

 width to accommodate sashes six feet long, and if in 

 length sufficient for four sashes each, strips should be 

 fastened to the frames at proper intervals for the sash to 

 slide on. The sash should be made of clear two-inch 

 pine, in the best manner, with slats sufficient for eight by 

 ten glass, four rows of glass to each sash, the glass 

 lapped together so as to shed rain. Use eight by six 

 glass if you can them, as there is less loss by breakage. 

 Place the frames upon the bed of manure, and put in two 

 or three inches of rich earth, free from the seed of weeds, 

 woods mould and strong loam, equal parts is good, to 

 to which may be added a little well-rotted hog manure, 

 2 



