34 
HOW TO MAKE A HOTBED. 
Monthly Operations. 
NOVEMBER. 
^ "D 'T^ "U" "C^ "D '^T The season for gardening is drawing to a close; indeed, it is 
AN Wlx. J. inJJ/JCVlN . liniited to the preservation of roots and hardier vegetables for 
"Winter use, and such operations as may be preparatory to another season. Now is a good 
time to transplant Fruit and Ornamental Trees, Shrubbery, etc. On loamy and light 
land, we prefer decidedly Fall planting, but on heavy soil, or where the subsoil is clay, thus 
retaining the moisture near the surface, Spring may be a more favorable season; and it is 
also generally esteemed the best for evergreens. Asparagus-beds Winter dress. Beets 
dig and store. Cabbages place in safe quarters. Carrots dig and store. Celery earth 
up finally. Drain vacant ground if needful. Horse-radish dig and store for convenience. 
Onions in store examine. Parsnips and Salsify di^ and pit for convenient access. From 
ist to 2oth of this month, according to locality, the Winter supply of Turnips should be 
pulled and pitted ; read what is said on that point in our pamphlet on Root-Culture. 
^OTTT^T-T Ih* I?1\r '^^^ garden work is ample enough to occupy attention. Peas 
A A J-rfiVlN . sow; if they escape the frost they will be ready for use in April. 
For sowing at this season, we recommend Tom Thumb and American Wonder ; they 
seldom rise over twelve inches, are abundant bearers, and are, withal, quite early ; also 
Little Gem, the three seeming to be admirably adapted to Autumn sowing in the South, 
where, on apprehended frost, protection maj' be given ; they are also equally well suited to 
early Sirring planting, for the same reason, and if planted on ground manured excessively 
high, will yield as much to a given quantity of land as any Pea known to us. Cabbage, 
if plants remain, set out. Onion Sets plant. Celery blanch. Salad sow on sheltered 
spots, Kadishes sow; if frost kills them, it is only a little labor lost. Plenty of I^andreths' 
Seeds are to be had. Try again. Drill Bloomsdale Spinach for Spring use, also Bosette 
Kale and Forcing Lettuce, 
This is the month to get our catalogue and price-list for seeds for the next year. 
M'rf^ID'T^'O'P^'OKr Compost prepare. Dung prepare for hotbeds. Hotbeds 
AXX-zJCVX^i, attend to. Radish and Salad sow in frames. Trench and 
drain vacant ground. Transplanting trees may still be done. 
The most important work in connection with the vegetable garden this month is to make 
out and mail to us your order for I^andreths' Seed. Do it without delay. 
^OTinrT-fTT'T? TST ^" south, Peas may be sown to succeed those of Novem- 
^ m^iS.L\ . remarks under that head. Cabbage plants, sown in 
Octobor, will be fit to put out. Sow Landreths' Earliest, Select Jersey Wakefield, 
and Eeedland Early Drumhead to head in January and February. Sow Radishes and 
Lettuce. lyook over the Spinach, thin it as you collect for daily use. Onion Sets may 
still be planted. Prei)are ground for Carrots. EJarth up Celery in dry weather. Tie up 
Endive. Prune Fruit Trees, Vines, etc. Transplant all hardy Trees. 
December closes the year, and if by chance we have dropped a hint of value to those 
whose experience in country life has been less than ours, or induced a better method, or more 
• regular system in the. management of farm or garden, we shall be compensated. 
One word in conclusion. Don't forget to order lyandreths' Seeds early. Order them now, 
as you might overlook the subject. Make your order out from this Catalogue. We guarantee 
the safe arrival of seeds. See remarks to purchasers on second page of cover. 
HOW TO MAKE A HOTBED. 
DEFINITION. 
It is a box or frame without bottom or top, made for one, two or four sash, as in the 
illustration. It may be made permanent of brick or stone, or temporary of plank or one- 
inch common boards, the back board about twenty inches high, one-half greater elevation 
than the front, which should be 
twelve to fourteen inches — the 
whole made to support a sash or. 
several of any dimensions, the 
best of about three by seven feet. 
The back being higher than 
the front gives a declivity to the 
sash, thus casting off the rain, 
which it would not do if fiat. 
The box at proper season is 
~'aced upon a bed of fermenting 
liuaterial, which, making a gentle 
and continuous heat, warms up 
a layer of soil resting upon it, and 
thus germinates seed and forces 
plants into rapid growth. 
The value of the bed depends principally upon the character of the fermenting 
material. This should be rich stable manure (no cow dung) forked over two or three times 
at intervals of a week and kept in a deep and compact pile till it begins to smoke or steam, 
