224 MAKING AND CARE OF HOTBEDS 



The yeast fungus, when once introduced into a manure 

 heap suitable to its development, spreads rapidly, and 

 soon has the whole mass in a state of heat. 



If the manure is very hot, the soil should be put on at 

 once, but if not, the sash should be placed over the 

 manure for a few days, until the manure is well heated, 

 then the soil put on. 



The bed should be watched, and as soon as the seed of 

 weeds which are in the soil begin to come up all over 

 the bed, it is time to plant the garden seed. 



Planting the seed is one of the most fascinating parts 

 of the work. To put the tiny seed into the mellow earth, 

 and in a few days see the little plants shove their heads 

 up to the light of day is well worth while. 



The bed should be marked off into perfectly straight 

 rows that run toward the rear from the front of the 

 frame, the depth of the rows to correspond with the 

 varieties of the seeds planted. 



The seeds of eggplant, tomatoes and peppers are thin, 

 and require more moisture than the seed of cabbage and 

 other vegetables that have the thick or round seed, and 

 should be planted deeper. 



The main object is to plant just deep enough, so that 

 the seed will not dry out after they germinate, and be- 

 fore they are well up and started. The soil should not 

 get very dry any time after the seeds are planted, or even 

 after the plants are up and growing. 



