270 



THE FARMERS' CABINET. 



VOL. 1. 



the closeness of their lap, their general 

 strength and trifling expense of their repairs ; 

 however each person will suit his own conve- 

 nience as to the size of tlie glass. Where 

 the sashes when laid on the frame meet, a 

 piece of pine about 3A inches broad and near^ 

 two thick, should run from back to front mor- 

 ticed into each, for their support, and for them 

 to slide on ; in the centre of which, as well as 

 in the ends of the frame, it will be well to 

 make a groove 5-8ihs of an inch wide and 

 ia quarter of an inch deep, round at bottom to | 

 receive and carry off any wet which may 

 work down between the sashes. 



METHOD OF MAKING A HOT BED. 



Provide the requisite supply of good horse 

 stable dung, consisting of that formed of the 

 moist stable litter and dungingr of the liorse 

 together, choosing that which is moderately 

 fresh, moist and full of heat — always prefer- 

 ring that which is of lively, warm, steamy 

 quality, and of which take the long and short 

 together as it occurs, in proper quality as 

 above. If the dung is rank it would be proper 

 to prepare it a little to an improved state, 

 more successful for that purpose, by forking 

 the whole up in a heap, mixing it well to- 

 gether, and let it thus remain eight or ten 

 days to ferment equally, and for the rank 

 steam and fierce heat to transpire. 



Choose a place on which to make your hot 

 bed in a dry sheltered part of the garden, 

 open to the morning and south sun : it may 

 be made either wholly on the surface of the 

 ground or in a shallow trench, of from 6 to 

 12 inches deep and 4 or 5 feet wide, accord- 

 ing to the frame ; if made on the surface, 

 which is the most eligible, as it affords an 

 opportunity of lining the sides of the bed with 

 fresh horse dung, quite down to the bottom, to 

 augment the heat when it declines, and also 

 prevents wet from settling about the bottom 

 of the bed, as often happens when made in a 

 trench, which chills the dung and causes the 

 heat to soon decay. 



Then according to the size of the frame, 

 mark out the dimensions of the bed, either on 

 the ground or with 4 stakes, making an 

 allowance for it to be about 4 or .5 inches 

 wider than the frame each way : this done, 

 begin to make the frame accordingly, observ- 

 ing to shake and mix the dung well as you 

 lay it on the bed, bat I would not advise 

 treading it ; for a bod which is trodden hard 

 will not work so kindl}', and be no more liable 

 to burn than that which is suffered to settle 

 gradually itself: proceed in this manner until 

 the bed has arrived at the height of 4 feet, 

 which will not be too much, making an 

 allowance for its settling 6 or 8 inches, or 

 more, in a week or fortnight's time; and as 

 Boon as finished, let the frame and glass be 



put on : keep them close till the heat comes 

 up, then raise the glass behind that the steam 

 may pass away. 



'i'he next thing to be observed is about 

 earthing the bed, in which to sow the seed, 

 and for which occasion you should have a pro- 

 per supply of rich, light, dry earth, or compost, 

 ready at this season, under some airy dry shed 

 or hovel, covered at top to keep out rain, that 

 the earth may be properly dry; for if too 

 moist or wet at the time, it would prove 

 greatly detrimental both to the growth of the 

 seed and young plants, as well as be very apt 

 to cake and burn at bottom next to the dung, 

 by the strong heat of the bed: three or four 

 days after the bed is made prepare to earth it, 

 observing previously if it has settled une- 

 qually to take off the frame and glasses, and 

 level any inequalities; make the surface 

 smooth, put on the frame again, and then lay 

 therein as much of the above mentioned enrtli 

 as will cover the whole top surface of the bed 

 about 3 or 4 inches thick. In two or three 

 days you may sow you seeds, after which 

 put on the lights or glasses close, but when 

 the steam rises copiously give it vent by rais- 

 ing one corner of the upper end of the lights 

 half an inch. Cover the glasses of the hot 

 bed every evening an hour before sunset, if 

 mild weather, earlier if bad, with garden mats, 

 uncover them every morning between B and 

 9 o'clock. The plants should have air every 

 day. 



This we deem all sufficient to enable the 

 farmer to manage his hot-bed successfully, 

 and for the subsequent treatment of it we 

 shall leave that to his own judgment and 

 that of his gardener. 



If you are disposed to encounter the trou- 

 ble — and it is nothing compared with the 

 value of the luxuries you may enjoy — you 

 may raise early cucumbers, lettuce, melons 

 of all kinds, cauliflowers, and all other tender 

 vegetables in your hot-bed for transplantation, 

 and thus as it were anticipate nature in her 

 usual annual gift of those delicious luxuries. 



CABBAGES. 



Sow all the early varieties of cabhnge seed, 

 and by the time the earth is warm enough to 

 receive the plants into its bosom in the open 

 air, they will be ready to be removed thither, 

 and if judiciously managed in setting out and 

 after culture, they will head nearly as soon 

 as those which were placed out last autumn. 



GENERAL CROP OF CABBAGE. 



Towards the latter end of this month, you 

 may sow with decided advantage, the flat 

 Dutch, Drumhead, large English Savoy and 

 indeed all the different varieties of Cabbage. 

 When sown early, you have a better chancfl 

 ofavailingyourself of a good season to trans- 



