1864. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



151 



blown about by the wind over the fields, as it soon 

 de<^enerates into the wild form, and then becomes 

 a troublesome plant. 



VEGETABLE QABDEM". 

 There is nothing so acceptable as early vegeta- 

 bles, and one of the most useful aids to this is a 

 hot-bed. Every amateur should have one, as ev- 

 ery well regulated horticultural establishment re- 

 gards it as one of its most essential features. 

 Not only is heat generated by manure more fa- 

 TOKible to vegetation than that from any other 

 kind of heat usually applied, but the manure it 

 self, after being so "employed, seems better tha 

 that preserved any other way. We would soonei 

 have one load of hotbed manure for horticultural 

 purposes, especially for pot plants generally, than 

 iwo of the same kind of manure that had not been 

 so emploved. 



A south-eastern aspect is best for a hot-bed, 

 and it should be well sheltered from winds on the 

 cold quarter. 



The foundation for the hotbed should be about 

 eii^hteen inches wider than the frame to be set on 

 it^Nvhen finished, and the manure regularly laid on 

 till about the height of three feet has been ob- 

 tained, when the frame may be set on. It is not 

 well to tram]) the manure too heavily, or the heat 

 will be too violent. Sometimes the manure is very 

 "strawy," in which case it should be watered with 

 drainage from the manure heap, or the heat will 

 bs "a good time coming," when it would be very 

 inconvenient to "wait a little longer." 



If the ground is dry, the soil may be dug out 

 about afoot in depth'; but for very early forcing 

 it is best to have the whole above ground, as when 

 sunk, the cold rain or thawing snow collects in 

 the pit and cools the materials. 



The sashes for hotbeds are usually six feet long, 

 and about three feet wide, costing from $2 to 

 $2.50, glazed and finished. The frame should 

 be about 2^ feet high at back, and 1 in front — 

 steeper at the back, if anything. 



To make a hotbed, long stable manure should 

 be employed, and if it can be turned a couple of 

 times, before heating violently each time, before 

 permanently using, the more regular will be the 

 ieat in the "bed, and the longer it will last. _ 



When the manure and frame are both fixed, a 

 half inch of soil should be thrown over the ma- 

 nure under the sash to absorb the gross gases that 

 would else be too strong. For a few da\ s after, 

 the heat will l)e too violent, but when the ther- 

 mometer indicates a temperature of 90"^, opera- 

 tion may Ijegin ; but the usual aim is 70°. When 

 the bed shows signs of getting below this, linings 

 of stable manure must be applied round the 

 frames, one and a half feet thick, and if boards, 

 shutters, mats, or any similar material can be 

 spread over these linings, the heat will be main- 

 tained much longer. 



Having secured the hotbed, Dahlias, Annuals, 

 Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Peppers. Eggplants, and 

 many other interesting things, can be started, by 

 which we may get several weeks ahead of our 

 neighbors in the enjoyment of vegetable luxuries, 

 and when done with the bed in May, it will be 

 the very place for Gloxinias, Achimenes, and 

 many other beautiful house plants which delight 

 in a warm, moist heat. — 'Die Gardener's Muntldy. 



For the Sew En<;land Farmer. 

 "SEEDING LAND TO GBASS." 



Messk.s. Editors: — It is now generally ad- 

 mitted that our most valuable grass lands are our 

 low meadows and reclaimed swamps — rich in the 

 accumulated vegetable deposits of ages. On 

 these many farmers noM' rely for their main crop 

 of English hay, particularly in a season of drought. 



Having subdued those fields by cultivation, or 

 otherwise, the question is as to the best method 

 of fitting them for a grass crop. In the first place 

 I would recommend a good and sufficient ditch 

 through the lowest ])art of the field ; then lay out 

 the bays two rods wide leading from the upland 

 to the main ditch. In the fall, when your ground 

 is in projier condition, commence plowing in the 

 centre of the first bay and turn back furrows un- 

 til you reach the second bay, then commence 

 again in the centre of that bay and back furrow 

 as before, and so on through the lot. The dead 

 furrows between the bays can then be cleaned 

 out, and these will be sufficient ditches to carry 

 off all the surplus water into the main ditch. 

 Now cart on a sufficiency of good compost ma- 

 nure, composed of barn manure, soil and sand 

 harrow, sow the grass seed and roll. 



This method I have practic^nl for many years 

 with good success, and find very little more in- 

 convenience than I should with covered drains, 

 and with much less expense. The ditches are 

 very easily kept clear ; the bays are crowned by 

 back furrowing ; the surplus water runs into the 

 main ditch. I find my account in giving those 

 bays a generous to]) dressing of good compost 

 manure as often as once in three years. c. 



North Pembroke, March, 1864. 



CULTURE OF THE PARSNIP. 

 The parsnip is one of the most valuable roots 

 that can be grown. In the island of Jersey it is 

 used almost exclusively for fiittening both cattle 

 and swine. According to Le Conteur the weight 

 of a good crop varies from thirteen to twenty-sev- 

 en tons per acre. When parsnips are given to 

 milch cows, with a little hay, in the winter sea- 

 son, thebutter is found to be of as fine a color and 

 excellent fiavor as when the animals are feeding in 

 the best pastures. As parsnips contain sin per 

 cent, more mucilage than carrots, the difference 

 may be sufficient to account for the superior fat- 

 tening as well as butter-making quality of the 

 parsnip. In the fattening of cattle the parsnip is 

 ibund superior to the canot, performing the busi- 

 ness with more expedition and afi'ording meat of 

 exquisite and highly juicy flavor ; the animals eat 

 it with much geediness. The result of experi- 

 ment has shown that not only in neat cattle, but 

 in the fattening of hogs and poultry, the animals 

 liecome fat much sooner, and are more healtliy 

 tlian when fed with any other root or vegetable, 

 and that, beside, the meat is more sweet and de- 

 licious. The parsnip leaves being more bulky 

 than those of carrots, may be mown ofl' before 

 taking the roots, and given to oxen, cows or 

 horses, by which they will be greetlily eaten. An- 

 other thing in favor of ])arsnips for this country 

 is, tliat tl>e frost does not injure tliem. Tliey may 

 remain in the ground until s])iiiig, when they 

 make si)lendid feed, at a time every otiier kind of 

 root or green thing is scarce, or they may be 



