196S 



ENCYCLOl'l^DlA OF I'HACTICAL HORTICULTURE 



Seeding the Hotbpd 



When the temperature of the hotbed is 

 satisfiictory, the soil should be made ready 

 at once lor seeding. Care should be taken 

 in handling the soil so that it will be ab- 

 solutely level and uniformly firm through- 

 out the bed. If not, trouble will be found 

 when the first few waterings are given. 

 This will cause the soil to wash from one 

 side of the bed to the other. The time of 

 planting the seed depends upon the local 

 conditions. It varies from year to year, 

 so the grower will need to use his best 

 judgment on this point. 



Seed can be sown in rows four Inches 

 apart and from four to five seeds to the 

 inch. At this di&tance one ounce of seed 

 will plant about two sash. For enough 

 plants to plant one acre and also allow for 

 the rejection of inferior plants, from one 

 to three ounces of good seed are neces- 

 sary. 



Hotbed Management 



The points to consider in managing a 

 hotbed are: 



1. Maintaining the proper heat. 



2. Ventilating. 



3. Watering. 



4. Hardening oft. 



5. Transplanting. 



When the seed is planted, close the hot- 

 bed and keep the temperature recorded by 

 the use of a thermometer. The frame will 

 need ventilation, and especially on bright 

 days. This will prevent the temperature 

 running too high. Fresh air must be 

 given every day. This is accomplished by 

 sliding or raising the sash. Weather con- 

 ditions govern the distance that the sash 

 Is moved. In cold or windy weather the 

 bed should be opened slightly for a few 

 minutes two or three times a day. In 

 changing the air of a hotbed never allow 

 the plants to become chilled by a strong, 

 cold wind blowing directly upon them. If 

 the weather turns unusually cold protect 

 the plants by covering the sash with mat- 

 ting made for the purpose or with heavy 

 burlap or material of that nature. See 

 that this covering is removed as soon as 

 possible each morning so the plants may 

 have the benefit of all the light. This 

 will prevent them from growing weak and 



slender. There can be no best system 

 worked out for the management of the 

 hotbed, because of the fact that conditions 

 vary so much and rapidly. 



Experience will soon prove the best way 

 to manage a hotbed. As a rule beginners 

 are apt to start plants too early. A to- 

 mato plant should be stalky, strong, and 

 vigorous when ready to leave the hotbed 

 for the cold frame for the hardening off 

 process. 



Transplanting Seedlings 



A new hotbed should be made ready for 

 receiving the seedlings, which should be 

 transplanted about three weeks from the 

 time the seed is planted. They can now 

 stand from three to four inches apart. 

 See that the conditions are congenial in 

 the new bed before the transfer is made. 

 Dig up the seedlings with as much of the 

 roots and soil as possible. A trowel is 

 very convenient for this. The plants are 

 usually set with a dibber and should be 

 placed in the ground almost to the seed 

 leaf. Firm the soil well about the roots. 

 This is important. Water the plants im- 

 mediately after setting. 



The management of this bed is prac- 

 tically the same as for the seed bed. The 

 weather at this time becomes warmer, so 

 the plants may be exposed more from day 

 to day. During the process of transplant- 

 ing see that the plants are not exposed to 

 the cold or drying winds. The amount of 

 hotbed space for receiving the seedling 

 will be about four times as great as the 

 seed bed. 



Cold Frames 



A cold frame differs mainly from a hot- 

 bed in that it has no bottom heat. It 

 should be placed near the hotbed, where 

 the same careful attention may be given. 

 In most parts of the Northwest sash cov- 

 ered with cloth may be used instead of 

 glass. However, cloth-covered sash is not 

 as safe. It is advisable in some localities 

 where strong winds prevail to bank up 

 the outside of the coldframe with coarse 

 material such as strawy manure. 



Transferring Plants to the Cold Frame 



Just before the plants begin to crowd in 

 the second hotbed, shift them to the cold 



