THE SEEDS OF VICTORY INSURE THE FRUITS OF PEACE 7 
wood ashes may be used. Do not apply 
lime at the same time as manure or mixed 
fertilizers, as it will cause loss of nitrogen. 
As an addition to soil lime is of consider- 
able value. Besides correcting acidity it 
changes the physical structure of the soil. 
One of the elements of lime is calcium, which 
is required for plant growth. 
OUTDOOR HOTBEDS 
For early planting a hotbed may be made, 
located in a sheltered spot with southern 
exposure, where it will receive a generous 
supply of sun. A width of 6 feet is desirable, 
and the length should be such as will enable 
the use of standard 3 by 6 foot hotbed sash. 
A simple, boxlike frame, 12 inches high in the 
rear and 8 inches high in front, will hold the 
sash and give a better angle for the rays of 
the sun. 
Dig a pit \}4 to 2 feet deep, the size of the 
sash frame to be used. Line the sides of this 
with boards or planks, brick or concrete, and 
make a tile drain, or place stones on the 
bottom of the pit, to carry off surplus water. 
This pit is to be filled with fresh horse manure. 
The manure will require special treatment 
before being placed in the pit. It should be 
thrown into a pile and allowed to heat. 
When it has heated and is steaming fork it 
over into a new pile, throwing the outside 
material into the center. When the new pile 
has become well heated fork the material 
once more into a new pile. This will require 
from ten days to two weeks and is important 
in that it gets rid of excessive heat. After 
this process fill the pit with the manure, 
packed down firmly and evenly, level with 
the surface of the surrounding earth. On 
top of this manure make a covering of good 
garden loam 3 or 4 inches deep. 
When the sash has been put in place the 
manure will generate heat, in addition to the 
heat that will be derived from the sun. After 
this heat has reached its highest point and 
dropped back to between 80 and 90 degrees F. 
the seed should be planted. Use the best 
seed obtainable. Until the seed germinate 
the hotbed should be kept shaded to hold 
moisture. This can be done by spreading 
over the sash strips of old carpet, heavy cloth 
or newspapers. After germination strong 
light will be needed. The plants must be 
watered each morning on clear days, and the 
sash left partially open for ventilation, as it 
is necessary to dry the foliage to prevent 
mildew. 
Proper ventilation is essential to the pro- 
duction of strong, healthy plants. The sash 
should be raised during the warmest part of 
the day on the side opposite the direction 
from which the wind is blowing. By opening 
it in this way instead of facing the wind, the 
hotbed receives fresh air without receiving 
direct draft. On cold days raise the sash 
slightly three or four times a day for a few 
minutes only. In severe weather cover the 
beds with mats, straw or manure to keep in 
as much heat as possible. About two weeks 
before transplanting time the sash should be 
removed during the day to “harden” the 
plants. While in the hotbed the plants 
should be thoroughly watered, but the water 
should not reach the manure underneath. 
Early morning is the best time for water- 
ing, so that the plants will be dried before 
night. 
An outdoor hotbed of this character should 
be started in the early spring — February or 
March. 
THE COLD FRAME 
A cold frame is useful for hardening piants 
which have been started in the hotbed. It 
is built like a hotbed, but without the pit or 
manure. It is built on the surface of the 
ground. Good, rich soil should be used and 
the soil kept slightly moist. In mild climates 
the cold frame may be used instead of a hot- 
bed for starting plants. It is also used in the 
fall and early winter for growing lettuce, 
radishes, carrots, parsley, etc. 
TOOLS 
Not many implements are required for 
home gardening. The essentials are a spade 
or a garden fork, a hoe, a rake with steel 
teeth, a trowel, a dibble or pointed stick, and 
a line such as is used by masons, or a piece of 
common string or cord, to stretch between 
two stakes for marking off rows. In the case 
of hard packed earth a pick is useful for dig- 
ging. For watering, a rubber hose is needed 
where pipe connections are available. Lack- 
ing this equipment a watering pot should be 
provided. A hand cultivator or wheel hoe is 
useful, especially in a large garden, and saves 
much time and labor in turning small furrows. 
With simple attachments it is used for 
stirring the soil and the removal of weeds. 
PREPARATION OF SOIL 
After the frost goes out test the ground by 
squeezing a handful of it. If it crumbles the 
soil is ready for spading. If it packs into a 
mud ball, the ground is still too wet and 
should not be worked. 
Spade deeply, 8 to 15 inches, unless this 
latter depth turns up poor soil and buries the 
richer soil of the top. Pulverize the dirt 
deeply with hoe, spade and rake, breaking all 
clods on the surface. If a lawn roller is 
available it is useful for crushing clods. All 
vegetable growth on the surface, such as grass 
