The Building of a Hotbed— By e. l. Fullerton 



Long 

 Island 



COMPLETE DIRECTIONS, INCLUDING THE BUILDING OF THE FRAME, PROTECTION FROM S i VERE COLD AND HEAVY 

 WINDS, AND THE PREPARATION OF THE HEATING MATERIAL. USING UP OLD ARTICLES ABOUT THE GARDEN 



A HOTBED is a necessity to the ama- 

 teur who raises his own seedlings of 

 tomato, cauliflower, lettuce, celery and early 

 cabbage instead of buying them in the spring 

 from the seed stores. The great advantage 

 of knowing exactly what varieties one has is 

 obvious. There is no mystery about the 

 making of one, yet many people, just because 

 they never understood how to make one, are 

 content to go on year after year in the old 

 way. The warmest and most sheltered spot 

 on the place is the one situation for the hot- 

 bed. Of course the ideal corner in our garden 

 was that which had been selected for the 

 young chicks. So they had to give way. 

 There was room for seven sash, each 3x6 



The frame made from 2x3 joists and 1x10 cypress 

 planKs. The ground dug to give a four-loot depth 



Pieces of 2x3 lumber brace the sides and form 

 slides for the sash 



Select a site sheltered on the north side 



feet. For the frame 2x3 joists and some 

 1 x 10 cypress planks were bought. On 

 the ground where the hotbeds were to 

 stand a space about 20^ x 5+ feet was dug 

 to a sufficient depth so that when the frame 

 work of the planks was set up and- leveled 

 the interior space was four feet deep. 



Locust posts set firmly at each of the four 

 corners and others at equal intervals on each 

 side furnished support for the planks. 



The south front of the frame was made 

 by one plank, the back being formed by two 

 planks. This gave the "slope to the south" 

 at an angle of about 30 degrees, which means 

 catching the most of the sun's heat and light. 



Six 1x3 joists running from back to front 

 (north to south) support the sash. No 

 grooves were made, as the sash was plain 

 and without the tongues formed on more 

 elaborately finished sash frames. 



Three feet of fresh stable manure, well 

 drenched with water from the garden hose, 

 made the heating material. The frame was 

 then closed up, and two days later the soil 

 for making the bed was thrown in. Earth 

 was banked firmly around the frame, then 

 an outer fence of old boards was built about 

 two feet from it on the north side, and 

 the intervening space filled with manure, 

 more of which was tightly banked around 

 the ends and on the south side to prevent frost 

 from entering. 



It is no use making a hotbed and allowing 

 all the heat to escape, so the glass of the sash 

 must have some covering, otherwise it will 

 radiate to an excessive degree. There are 

 various possibilities of course — straw mats, 

 covered with old matting or carpet, boards, 

 burlap, oiled or paraffined cloth, etc. 



Our preference was for salt hay, and, as 

 this is too short to braid or weave, we made 

 a thin mattress-like affair about four inches 

 deep of unbleached muslin sheeting. It 

 takes five yards of unbleached muslin two and 

 a quarter yards wide, a couple of wheelbar- 

 row loads of salt hay, a small quantity of 

 twine and about four hours time to make the 

 mattress mat. The regular six-foot straw mat 

 made on a frame takes four sheaves of rye 

 straw, a ball of twine and two and a half 

 hours' time. 



The whole is covered with a waterproof 

 covering of some sort, to prevent snow or 

 rain from soaking through. This can be 

 accomplished by having the waterproof cover 

 long enough to fasten down on the ground at 

 each end of the frame. If attached to a 

 wooden roller, it will facilitate the uncovering. 



The fun of a hotbed comes in when you 

 are gathering lettuce and radishes from it 

 before the regular outdoor seeding time. 

 The small ones of the family can be provided 

 for, too, if given a small section for sweet 

 violets. They will derive great joy in the 

 thought of sending the flowers to brighten 

 22 



the desk of some city friend who loves nature 

 as they do. 



Last November was so mild that I had 

 pansies still in bloom, so I lifted some roots 

 to the hotbed, cutting them back severely. 

 Of course I know I should have sown seed in 

 August, and had planned to do so, but best 

 intentions sometimes fail, and, although I had 

 vowed terrible and awful things in regard to 

 the various seeds I would plant in August, 

 they still remain unsown. 



It is in making up for lost opportunity, as 

 well as in forestalling the spring advent, that 

 the home gardener will find abundant satis- 

 faction in owning a hotbed. 



All ready. The sash is closed and heating begins 



Mats of straw or mattresses of salt hay are serviceable 

 covers for retaining heat 



The foundation of success — plenty of green manure 



