48 



GENESEE FARMER. 



Feb. 



HORTI CULTURAL DEPARTM ENT. 



CONDUCTED BY P. BARRY. 



Construotion and Management of Hot-beds. 



The prevalent opinion amongst farmers re- 

 specting hot-beds, is, that they are expensive ar- 

 ticles, requiring the skill of professed gardeners 

 to manage them, and almost entirely outside the 

 range of farming economy. Both suppositions 

 are decidedly erroneous, and we hope that every 

 one who reads this will arrive at such a conclu- 

 sion. We do not propose that every farmer 

 should go into the regular routine of forcing veg- 

 etables, at extraordinary seasons ; but that every 

 one, however humble his circumstances may be, 

 should, at least, have one hot-bed to forward such 

 plants as he may want to cultivate in his garden, 

 and which he has either to purchase from gar- 

 deners — and then get poor, weak, badly grown 

 things — or else wait for the regular process of 

 opsn garden culture, which, in our climate, un- 

 der the most favorable circumstances, will not 

 allow him the taste of a vegetable until the sum- 

 mer is half gone. We are surprised to see farm- 

 ers come to the city and purchsae a dozen of poor, 

 weak withered cabbage, tomato, or celery plants, 

 when they might have raised an abundance at 

 home, far superior, and in better season. 



The value of culinary vegetables, as we have 

 often said, is not at all appreciated by those who, 

 of all others, ought to appreciate it — the professed 

 cultivators of the soil. No effort, worth speak- 

 ing of, is bestowed upon them, as a general thing. 

 We have seen what is called the gardens of some 

 of the best field farmers in this county, produce 

 little else but 7veeds, at a season when it should 

 hive been teeming with all the variety of healthy, 

 nutritious vegetables. Let us urge upon them, 

 for their own sakes, and for the credit of our ag- 

 riculture generally, the importance of a reform 

 in this regard. In the midst of the improve- 

 ments of the day, the vegetable garden, that may 

 contribute so largely to the health and comfort 

 of every family, should surely not be negleted. 

 Let it participate, largely and fully, in the im- 

 provement, and it will yield ample compensation. 

 This is the season to make preparations while 

 there is leisure. 



A simple hot-bed for forwarding plants, such 

 as cabbage, tomato, celery, brocoli, cauliflower, 

 egg plant, pepper, melons, cucumbers, &c>, may 

 be constructed by any man having but ordinary 

 ingenuity. The size may be adapted to circum- 

 stances. For raising such plants as we have 

 mentioned, a frame of about 12 feet long and 6 

 wide, which will allow of 3 sashes, each 3 feet 

 wide, will be found large enough for any family. 

 It should be made of common two inch plank — 

 the back about three feet high, the front about 

 half that, the ends having a regular slope from 

 back to front. This will give an angle sufficient 

 to throw off rain, and give the full benefit of ex- 

 tornal heat and light to the plants within. If 

 the beds are narrow the front must be higher 

 in proportion. The sides and ends are simply 

 nailed to a strong post, four inches square, or 

 more, placed in each corner. For the sashes to 

 rest and slide upon, a strip 6 inches wide is 

 placed across the frame, the ends morticed or 

 sunk in the sides of the frame, so as not to cause 

 a projection. The sashes are made in the ordi- 

 nary way, but without cross bars ; and in gla- 

 zing, the lights are made to overlap an eighth or 

 quarter of an inch, to exclude the rain. Such a 

 frame, costing a mere trifle beyond the labor, 

 will last for years. Where so large a frame, as 

 the dimensions here given, may not be wanted, 

 an old window may be used for sash, and all ex- 

 pense of glazing be avoided. The annexed fig- 

 ure will convey an idea to those unacquainted 

 with it. One of the sashes is moved down as in 

 admitting air, and the other laid off entirely. 



Hot beds should occupy a dry situation, where 

 they will not be affected by the lodgment of wa- 

 ter during rains or thaws. They should be ex- 

 posed to the east and south, and protected by 

 fences or buildings from the north and northwest. 



Where it is intended to merely grow plants 

 for transplanting to the garden, they may be sunk 

 in the ground to the depth of 18 inches, and will 

 in such a case require not more than 2 feet deep 

 of manure ; but when forcing and perfecting 

 vegetables, a permanent heat must be kept up, 

 and the bed must be made on the surface, so that 

 fresh and wai-m manure ma}- be added when 

 necessary. A depth of three to four feet of ma- 

 nure will in such cases be wanted. Manure for 

 hot beds should go through a regular process of 

 preparation. It should be fresh stable manure, 

 placed in a heap, and turned and mixed several 



