MHE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



85 



ly over the dung, about six inches deep; 

 after it has lain a few days examine it, 

 and if no traces of a burning effect are 

 discovered, by the mould turning of a 

 whitish color and caking", it will be fit to 

 receive the plants, but if the earth appears 

 burned, or has a rank smell, some fresh 

 sweet mould should be provided for the 

 hills, and placed in the frame to get warm; 

 at the same time vacancies should be 

 made to give vent to the steam, by run- 

 ning down stakes. 



"After the situation of the bed has 

 been ascertained and the heat regulated, 

 the hole should be closed and the earth 

 formed into hills; raise one hill in the 

 centre under each sash, so that the earth 

 is brought to within nine inches of the 

 glass ; in these hills plant three seedlings, 

 or turn out such as may be in pots with 

 the balls of earth about their roots, and 

 thus insert one patch of three plants in 

 the middle of each hill. The plants should 

 be immediately watered with water heated 

 to the temperature of the bed, and kept 

 shaded till they have taken root. 



a The temperature should be kept up 

 to sixty degrees, and may rise to eighty 

 degrees without injury, provided the rank 

 steam be allowed to pass off; therefore, 

 as the heat begins to decline, timely lin- 

 ings of well prepared dung must be ap- 

 plied all round the frame. Begin by lin- 

 ing the back part first ; cut away the old 

 dung perpendicularly to the frame, and 

 form a bank two feet broad, to the height 

 of a foot, against the back of the frames ; 

 as it sinks, add more ; renew the linings 

 round the remainder of the bed as it be- 

 comes necessary, and be careful to let off 

 the steam, and give air to the plants at all 

 opportunities. 



" Give necessary waterings, mostly in 

 the morning of a mild day, in early forc- 

 ing; and in the afternoon, in the advanced 

 season of hot sunny weather. Some use 

 water impregnated with sheep or pigeon 

 dung. As the roots begin to spread, and 

 the vines to run, the hills should be en- 

 larged by gathering up the earth around 

 them, for which purpose a supply of good 

 mould should be kept ready at hand, to 

 be used as required. 



" When the plants have made one or 

 two joints, stop them, by pinching off the 

 tops, after which they generally put forth 

 two shoots, each of which let run till they 

 have made one or two clear joints, and 

 then stop them also ; and afterward con- 

 tinue throughout the season to stop at 

 every joint ; this will strengthen the plants, 

 and promote their perfecting the fruit 

 early." 



Radishes, lettuce, &c, may be forced 

 in beds similar to that described for cu- 

 cumbers, and the earth in the dung bed 

 should be a foot deep. They do not re- 

 quire so much heat. The plants require 

 to be well thinned out, air to be regularly 

 admitted, and water gently and regu- 

 larly supplied. In admitting air to hot- 

 beds, a mat should be thrown over the 

 opening to prevent the plants from being 

 chilled. 



Earth for hotbed plants should, in all 

 cases, be good rich friable loam, mixed 

 with a third of well rotted manure, and 

 some coarse sand to make it porous. 



Chicopee Telegraph. 



LABOR-SAVING SOAP. 



To make it, take two pounds of sal. 

 soda, two pounds of yellow bar soap, two 

 quarts of water, or in like proportion. — 

 Cut the soap in thin slices, and boil to- 

 gether two hours, and then strain through 

 a cloth into a tight box or tub ; let it cool 

 and it is fit for use. Do not let it freeze. 



To use it: put the clothes in soak the 

 night before you wash. The next morn- 

 ing put the water into your kettle or boiler. 

 To every two pails of water, add about 

 one pound of the soap. As soon as the 

 water with its dissolved soap boils, wring 

 out the clothes from the water in which 

 they had been at soak during the night, 

 and put them into the boiler, without any 

 rubbing. Let them boil one hour, then 

 suds and rinse them, and they will be 

 clean and white. They will need no rub- 

 bing, except a little on such places as are 

 soiled, and for that no washboard will be 

 required. The clothes should be rinsed 

 in two waters. 



