ESTIMATE OF SEED TO AN ACRE. 
35 
iudicating that the process of fermentation has set in. If the dung be very rich in grain an 
addition of forest leaves is desirable, as they serve to prolong the period of fermenta- 
tion, which otherwise might be too rapid. 
LOCATION AND MAKING. 
Selecting a well-drained location, and oiie never flooded by rain, excavate a pit one or 
two feet deep, and one foot longer and one foot broader than the box. Into this place six 
inches of rough barnyard manure, corn stalks, leaves or straw, for drainage, and on it 
lightly fork in the fermenting dung and tramp it firmly down to a depth of two feet. 
Place on the box and fit the sash lightly, cover with mats and allow fermentation to again 
proceed, banking up with hot manure on the outside all around at an angle of 45°. Place on 
top of the manure a layer of three inches of rich, moist, finely pulverized soil. In a day or 
so the temperature will rise to 120°. When the temperature has fallen to 90° destroy all the 
weeds which have sprouted ; and sow the seed for which the bed is intended. Cover every 
night with mats to exclude frost and give air during the day, never allowing the temperature 
to fall below 70" or rise above 90°. The secret of growing good plants is to give plenty of 
air, else the plants will be sickly, spindly specimens. Short, stocky plants are what are 
desired. Sow the seed in rows three inches apart and one-quarter to one-third inch deep, 
and cover by sifting on fine earth. 
CARE OF HOTBEDS. 
Water every evening. Remove the mats every morning about 9 o'clock, give air about 10 
o'clock. Cut off the air in the afternoon as soon as the air becomes the least chilly. Cover 
with mats before sunset. Hotbeds should be covered early in the evening, to retain their 
heat, and in the morning uncovered when the sun rests upon the glass, as every effort should 
be made to give the jplants all the sunlight possible, as its rays are vivifying to a degree 
beyond the amount of its heat, it having a chemical and physiological effect beyond explana- 
tion. Ejven dull light is better than no light, consequently it is a bad plan to cover sashes 
with mats, except for the direct purpose of keeping out cold. Peppers and Egg-Plants 
require more heat than other plants. Success depends on bottom heat from the manure, top 
heat from the sun, water from daily application, and air at midday. Without plenty of air 
the other requisites will be fruitless. 
All seedlings should be transplanted into other hotbeds or intermediate beds when two 
inches high. 
Hotbeds may be used for forcing Lettuce, Radish, E;gg-Plant, Pepper, Tomatoes, Cabbage, 
Cauliflower and Ornamental Flowers. 
ARTIFICIAL HEAT. 
We have known locations where stable manure for hotbeds was not readily obtained, and 
to meet such conditions we give the following directions for manufacturing a fermenting 
material for the production of a moderate and continuous heat, the quantities named being 
' sufficient for a box twelve by seven feet. Take as the crude materials, 500 lbs. of straw, three 
bush. Powdered Quicklime, six lbs. Muriatic Acid, six lbs. Saltpetre. 
Having prepared the excavation of proper dimensions, spread three or four inches of 
forest leaves or old hay in the bottom. Upon that spread eight inches of the straw, tramp it 
■down and sprinkle with one-third part of the quicklime. Dilute the six pounds of muriatic acid 
with twenty gallons of water, and, by means of an old broom, sprinkle the bed with one- 
third part of tne solution. Make another layer of eight inches of straw, applying quicklime, 
and the solution as before. Repeat for a third layer. Upon this make a fourth layer of straw, 
and upon it sprinkle the six pounds of saltpetre dissolved in thirty gallons of water. Place 
the box in position, bank up outside, within the box spread three inches rich, finely pulver- 
ized earth, and put on the sash. A heat will soon be generated which will continue for two 
or three weeks. 
AN nSTIMATM OF SnBD AND NUMBER OF 
PI^ANTS REQUISITE) TO CROP AN ACRE 
IN ANY ONE VARIETY, 
It will be noticed that these quantities are in some instances in excess of what 
will be actually required, but are given to insure a full stand ; it is poor 
economy to stint the quantity of seed. 
Asparagus in 12-inch drills 16 quarts. 
" plants @ 4x>^ feet 8000 
IBarley 2% bushels. 
Beans, Bush, in drills @ 2% feet i}^ " 
" Pole, Ivima, @ 4x4 feet . 20 quarts. 
•" Carolina, Prolific, etc., @ 4x3 feet 10 " 
IBeets and Mangolds in drills @ 2% feet 12 pounds. 
Broom Corn in drills 12 " 
Cabbage sown in out-door beds for transplanting lo ounces. 
Cabbage sown in frames 4 " 
•Carrot, in drills @ 2% feet 3 pounds. 
Celery, seed : , . . . 8 ounces, 
" plants @ 4x1^ feet . .25,000 
■Clover, White Dutch 12 pounds. 
" lyUcerne 10 " 
" . Alsike 12 " 
" Ivarge Red with Timothy , 12 " 
" Rarge Red without Timothy 16 " 
•Corn, Sugar , . o quarts. 
" Field 8 " 
•Corn Salad,_in drills @ 10 inches, large seed 25 pounds. 
Cucumber, in hills @ 3x4 feet 2 quarts. 
" in drills - 3 " 
Egg-Plant, plants 3x2 feet . 4 ounces. 
Endive, in drills @ 2% feet 3 pounds. 
Flax, Broadcast 2 bushels. 
iGra.ss, Timothy with Clover ; 6 quarts, 
" " without Clover 10 " 
