CDS 



THE FAKMKRS MAMtliOOK. 



The Hot-bed. 



For ball' an acre of tomatoes the hot-bed will need to be about 24 feet 

 long by 6 feet wide, if it is proposed to set out the plants about 2 inches 

 apart each way without pots. If 3-inch pots are to be used, the hot-bed will 

 need to be proportionately larger for the same area of tomatoes. 



A few loads of fresh stable manure are put in a heap, and allowed to heat 

 for about a fortnight. When quite fresh it heats too rapidly, and will burn 

 the plants, so it should be allowed to ferment a little before use, and turned 

 over at least once to regulate the heat. This should be spread out evenly 

 to a depth of 2 feet on the surface of the ground facing, for preference, the 

 north-east. The quantity of manure required can be gauged from the size 

 of the hot-bed proposed to be made. 



Around the hot-bed, build a frame of battens, 2 feet high at the back, and 

 18 inches high at the front above the level of the manure. Cover the sides 



and ends with bagging or 



other such material. Over 



the top place a hessian blind 



fastened at the back, and at 



the front put a long piece of 



round wood, upon which the 



blind can be rolled back to- 



admit sunlight and air. Glass 



is largely used for covering 



the frames, but the hessian blind is quite as satisfactory and much less 



expensive. The blind is let down at night to protect the plants from frost,. 



?.nd rolled up in the morning. 



Hot-bed frame 



The Seed-boxes. 



These may be made from kerosene cases. One side of a case is removed,, 

 and the top closed so as to give a flat box about 10 inches deep. Put 



3 inches of rotten manure or similar material in the bottom for drainage 

 purposes, and then 3 inches of nice, free, sandy soil. This will leave about 



4 inches of space for the seedlings to grow. Sow the seeds in the box, and 

 place a sheet of glass over it in order to exclude the cold air. Plunge the 

 box into the hot-bed, so that the heat may germinate the seeds. Draw down 

 the hessian blind each night. As the plants come up, the glass cover is 

 gradually tilted back to give ventilation, until eventually it is removed 

 altogether. 



Four such boxes will be enough for half an acre of tomatoes. 



The seedlings must be taken out of the boxes as soon as they are strong 

 enough — generally when about 2 inches high. If left too long they will 

 grow spindly and possibly " damp off." 



Planting in Hot-bed. 



The practice of pricking the young seedlings into 3-inch pots, and plung- 

 ing the pots into the hot-bed, is preferable to planting direct into the hot- 

 bed. The advantage is that the plants can afterwards be turned out of the 

 pots into the field without suffering any check. In case the pots are not 

 available, however, 4 inches of soil may be put on top of the hot-bed. and 



