1892 
THE  RURAL  NEW-YORKER. 
Hot-Bed  Heat  Without  Horse 
Manure. 
Two  weeks  ago  we  printed  this  note. 
Wanted  Hot-Bed  Information  ! 
This  question  comes  from  Wisconsin.  We  want  facts  about  substi¬ 
tutes  for  stable  manure  In  hot-beds: 
“  Does  The  Rural  know  of  any  firm  that  manufactures  stoves  or 
furnaces  or  other  apparatus  for  heating  dwellings  or  greenhouses 
where  kerosene  oil  Is  used  for  fuel?  If  so,  does  It  know  If  their  use  Is 
a  success  or  a  failure?  We  want  something  to  heat  our  hot-beds  dur¬ 
ing  the  spring  Instead  of  horse  manure.” 
Here  are  a  few  answers: 
Here  in  Monroe  County,  N.  Y.,  I  have  used  a  small 
oil-stove  in  my  greenhouse  as  supplementary  to  a  hot 
water  heater  in  cold  weather,  and  have  let  the  products 
of  combustion  escape  into  the  house  without  injury  to 
the  plants  so  far  as  I  can  see.  I  found  the  expense  of 
this  about  the  same  as  that  for  coal,  counting  the  best 
oil  at  cents  per  gallon,  and  hard  coal  at  .14.25 
per  ton.  GEO.  ARNOLD  JR. 
Success  with  Hot  Air  Flues. 
Wood  and  hard  coal  can  be  used  successfully  for 
heating  hot-beds.  Dig  a  pit  about  six  feet  deep  and 
large  enough  so  that  one  can  work  in  it  to  attend  the 
fire.  Build  a  fire-place  in  one  end,  and  put  in  grates 
about  12  or  15  inches  from  the  bottom.  Make  the  fire¬ 
place  large  enough  for  wood  or  hard  coal.  Now  build 
a  short  chimney  about  two  feet  above  the  back  end  of 
the  fire-place  and  make  two  holes  in  the  chimney  from 
four  to  six  inches  in  diameter.  With  these  connect 
tiles,  using  the  hardest  nearest  the  fire-place  to  pre¬ 
vent  cracking  from  the  heat.  Dig  two  trenches  3 % 
feet  apart,  and  deep  enough  so  that  the  pipes  or  tile 
will  be  covered  from  five  to  seven  inches  with  earth. 
Then  put  on  frames  six  feet  wide  and  of  any  desired 
length  from  10  to  500  feet.  The  hot  air  will  heat  the 
whole  length  of  the  flues.  Terminate  these  in  a 
chimney  at  the  further  end.  This  can  be  made  of 
boards  10  feet  long  and  12  inches  wide,  which  will  give 
sufficient  draft.  Make  the  fire-place  at  the  lowest 
point  ;  if  there  is  a  gradual  ascent  from  it  to  the  chim¬ 
ney,  the  draft  will  be  all  the  better.  A  liot-bed  of  this 
kind  can  be  used  for  years.  The  flues  will  heat  the 
ground  under  the  glass,  and  fire  need  be  used  only 
when  the  operator  desires.  Beds  o i  this  kind  can  be 
built  with  very  little  expense,  and  the  heat  is  easily 
controlled.  A.  B.  mabie. 
Fire-Heated  Hot-Beds. 
Although  I  have  had  no  experience  with  kerosene 
for  heating  hot-beds,  I  have  used  the  old-fashioned 
flue  for  that  purpose,  and  it  was  quite  satisfactory.  It 
was  made  as  shown  at  Fig.  84.  A  dry  situation  for  the 
hot-bed  was  selected  and  a  trench  was  dug  out  the 
length  of  the  bed,  which  may  be  50  or  60  feet  long  for 
each  flue.  It  is  two  feet  deep  in  the  center  and  of  the 
shape  shown.  Should  there  be  any  danger  of  water 
standing  in  it,  a  tile  must  be  laid  to  carry  it  oft'.  In 
preparing  the  bottom  on  which  the  flue  is  to  rest,  an 
ascent  of  about  0  inches  to  the  50  feet  must  be  given  it 
for  the  whole  distance  from  the  furnace  to  the  chimney. 
The  back  of  the  hot-bed  frame  is  two  feet  above 
the  surface  ;  the  front  six  inches  lower.  Even  with 
the  surface  of  the  earth,  joists  are  placed  crosswise, 
four  feet  apart,  and  on  these  rests  the  floor,  which  in 
turn  supports  the  soil,  which  is  six  inches  deep.  Suffic¬ 
ient  space  is  thus  left  between  the  ground  and  the 
glass  for  the  plants  to  grow.  The  walls  above  ground 
are  formed  of  inch  boards  with  an  air-space  between 
them,  the  inside  board  going  down  in  the  soil  to  a 
depth  of  a  foot,  which  arrangement  tends  to  make  the 
whole  thing  steady,  in  addition  to  the  support  given 
by  the  stakes  driven  in,  which  also  serve  to  keep  the 
boards  apart.  Along  underneath  the  center  of  the 
joists  a  narrow  strip  is  fastened,  to  which  boards  three 
feet  long  and  half  an  inch  thick  are  nailed.  These 
serve  to  keep  the  middle  part  of  the  soil  from  getting 
too  warm,  and  also  help  to  keep  the  sides  at  an  equal 
temperature,  and  serve  admirably  as  heat  equalizers. 
At  the  end,  over  the  furnace,  a  small  shed  was  built, 
which  contained  the  fuel  and  also  served  as  a  sort  of 
work-shop.  The  furnace  was  constructed  of  common 
brick  lined  with  fire-brick,  and  lengthened  out  until 
it  became  the  Hue,  as  seen  in  the  illustration,  and 
though  it  may  appear  too  small,  yet  it  was  large 
enough  to  heat  such  a  bed  to  a  temperature  high 
enough  for  tomatoes,  peppers,  radishes,  lettuce,  etc., 
those  which  required  the  coolest  place  being  put  far¬ 
thest  from  the  furnace.  The  way  in  which  the  flue 
was  built  is  very  plainly  shown,  the  extra  brick  being 
put  in  on  top  in  order  to  form  a  larger  mass  to  hold  the 
heat.  Owing  to  the  required  ascent  in  the  flue,  it  must 
be  left  as  far  as  possible  from  the  woodwork  above  it, 
at  the  furnace  and  for  15  or  20  feet ;  then,  as  the 
back-end  is  reached,  but  little  space  will  be  between 
the  flue  and  the  wood,  and  while  this  portion  is  never 
likely  to  become  warm  enough  to  set  the  wood  on  fire, 
it  is  yet  safer  to  use  tin  over  it  for  some  distance,  and 
also  right  back  of  the  furnace.  The  fuel  I  used  was 
coke,  and  the  entire  arrangement  was  entirely  satis¬ 
factory,  although  perhaps  it  required  rather  closer  at¬ 
tention  than  an  ordinary  liot-bed.  elmer  e.  summery. 
Chemicals  and  Celery.— I. 
now  I  GREW  12.000  WORTH  ON  ONE  ACRE. 
A  New  Method  of  Celery  Growing. 
The  demand  for  celery  is  rapidly  increasing.  If  by 
any  new  mode  of  culture  the  crop  can  be  increased 
from  two  to  four-fold  with  less  labor,  it  is  of  great  im¬ 
portance  to  every  grower  of  celery.  We  often  hear  of 
complaints  about  seed  not  coming  up,  and  the  seedsman 
is  unjustly  accused  of  selling  poor  seed.  It  is  very 
important  to  know  how  to  germinate  the  seed,  there¬ 
fore  a  full  description  is  given  here.  For  early  celery, 
the  seed  is  sown  in  February  in  flats  about  2%  inches 
deep  with  about  two  inches  of  loam.  The  latter  is 
pressed  down,  the  seed  is  sown,  pressed  in  the  soil, 
and  covered  about  an  eighth  of  an  inch  with  loam.  It 
is  then  watered,  and  the  flats  are  piled  on  top  of  each 
other  to  keep  the  soil  moist.  In  about  60  days  they 
are  taken  down,  watered,  and  piled  up  again,  to  re¬ 
main  until  the  seed  begins  to  sprout,  which  one  may 
expect  in  from  ten  days  to  two  weeks. 
The  flats  are  then  spread  out  so  that  the  sprouting 
seed  can  get  the  air  and  sun.  At  this  time  great  care 
is  necessary  to  keep  the  sprouting  seed  from  drying 
up.  Two  hours  under  glass  in  the  hot  sun  may 
destroy  the  plants,  and  yet  sun  and  air  are  just  what 
they  need  to  make  them  stocky  and  vigorous.  For 
from  300  to  500  plants  buy  10  to  20  cents’  worth  of  seed 
of  the  self-blanching  varieties  (White  Plume  or  Golden 
Self- Blanching),  sow  as  directed  above,  and  cover  with 
paper  or  anything  to  keep  the  soil  moist,  until  the 
seed  germinates.  Keep  the  flat  or  box  in  the  kitchen 
1 39 
or  a  warm  room.  Sow  in  March  or  about  the  1st  of 
April,  for  family  use. 
When  the  plants  are  about  one  or  1%  inch  high  prick 
them  out  in  flats  with  good,  rich  loam  two  to  three 
inches  deep,  or  in  the  garden  if  the  weather  is  suitable, 
from  2%  to  three  inches  apart.  Great  care  must  be 
taken  at  all  times  to  water  the  plants,  giving  them 
enough  to  prevent  them  from  wilting.  When  they  are 
two  to  three  inehes  high  I  scatter  about  two  table¬ 
spoonfuls  of  Stockbridge  celery  manure  or  fertilizer  to 
75  or  100  plants.  Use  the  Hill  and  Drill  fertilizer  for 
other  kinds  of  plants.  Scatter  the  fertilizer  on  the 
plants  when  the  foliage  is  dry  ;  then  brush  it  off  with 
a  broom  or  the  hand. 
If  any  one  doubts  the  marvelously  beneficial  results 
of  this  fertilizer,  let  him  try  it  at  this  stage  of  growth, 
especially  if  his  plants  are  in  flats. 
I  grow  large  quantities  of  celery,  tomato,  pepper 
and  cauliflower  plants  in  flats  for  market.  Sometimes 
they  are  not  sold  on  account  of  cold  or  dry  weather  ; 
therefore  they  turn  yellow,  all  the  food  in  the  soil 
being  exhausted.  They  cannot  be  sold  in  this  dying 
condition.  Now  scatter  the  fertilizer  on  them  as 
directed  above,  and  keep  them  well  watered.  In  about 
10  days  there  will  be  a  marked  improvement.  In  two 
weeks  the  plants  will  be  as  good  as  ever,  if  not  better. 
1  f  the  fertilizer  can  make  plants  that  are  nearly  dead 
from  starvation  healthy  and  vigorous  in  two  weeks’ 
time,  what  are  the  possibilities  if  the  plants  are  fed  on 
that  kind  of  food  from  start  to  finish  ?  ROBERT  NIVEN. 
[Next  will  be  given  a  minute  description  of  the  new  method  ol’  set¬ 
ting  out  and  growing.] 
Business  Bits. 
“  Village  Nurseries.”— John  H.  Black,  Son  &  Co.,  are  proprietors 
of  these  nurseries,  which  are  located  at  lllghtstown,  N.  J.  These  men 
are  highly  spoken  of  for  fair  dealing  and  an  earnest  desire  to  “  do 
what  they  say  and  Bay  what  they  do!” 
A  E'knce  Machine.— Why  not  make  a  picket,  If  It  Is  necessary  fo 
you  to  have  any  fence  at  all  ?  This  Is  an  ago  of  machinery,  and  you 
should  make  fences  by  machine  power  as  well  as  anything  else.  How  ? 
Send  to  S.  11.  Garrett,  Manslleld,  O.,  and  secure  full  Information. 
Yankee  Swivel  Blow.— This  plow  Is  made  by  The  Belcher  &  Tay¬ 
lor  Agricultural  Tool  Co.,  Chicopee  Kails,  Mass.  Wo  always  have 
many  Inquiries  for  a  swivel  plow,  the  writers  wishing  to  know  whore  to 
get  a  good  one.  We  have  no  hesitation  In  recommending  the  “  Yankee.” 
Cigar  Wrapper  Tobacco. — This  is  the  title  of  a  82-page  pamphlet 
sent  by  the  Bradley  Fertilizer  Company,  Boston,  Mass.  It  gives,  In  a 
brief,  comprehensive  way,  an  account  of  the  methods  employed  by  the 
best  growers  In  growing  and  curing  tobacco,  It  Is  well  Illustrated  and 
tells  the  whole  story  In  a  few  words. 
One  of  the  best  devices  for  sowing  grass  seeds  Is  Thompson’s  Wheel¬ 
barrow  Grass  Seeder,  made  by  O.  E.  Thompson  &  Son,  Ypsllantl,  Mich. 
This  machine  has  been  before  the  public  for  10  years,  and  has  any 
number  of  friends  who  will  warrant  It  to  be  first-class  In  all  reapects. 
It  will  sow  grass  seeds  In  windy  weather. 
The  Acme  Harrow. — The  best  test  of  a  tool  Is  the  fact  that  It  stays 
before  the  public.  It  must  have  merit  to  do  this.  Dozens  of  new  har¬ 
rows  have  been  put  on  tho  market.  Many  of  them  are  excellent  In 
their  way,  but  the  old  “  Acme  ”  still  remains  the  best  tool  for  crushing, 
smoothing  and  leveling  the  soil  In  preparation  for  a  crop.  Many 
farmers  do  well  to  got  the  new  digging  and  spading  machines.  They  are 
useful  In  their  way,  but  they  do  not  leave  tho  surface  soli  ready  for  a 
crop.  No  tool  will  do  this  work  better  than  tho  “  Acme.”  Send  to  Duane 
H.  Nash,  Millington,  N.  J.,  for  a  pamphlet  proving  this  statement,  and 
learn  further  that  the  harrow  has  been  reduced  in  price  nearly  40  per 
cent.  No  excuse  now  for  not  having  ono. 
A  Substitute  for  Stable  Manure. — The  tobacco  plant  is  about 
the  most  exacting  In  Its  demands  upon  tho  soil.  While  farmers  and 
business  men  have  been  forced  to  admit  that  for  other  plants  fertil¬ 
izers  will  do  excellent  service,  many  have  claimed  that  tobacco  is  an 
exception  and  that  nothing  cun  take  the  place  of  stable  manure  In  Its 
successful  culture.  Of  late  years  this  theory  has  been  badly  upset. 
A  farmer  in  South  Deerfield,  Mass.,  last  year  raised  tobacco  that  sold 
for  82  cents  per  pound  for  tho  entire  yield.  Ho  used  nothing  but  the 
Mapes  Tobacco  Manure.  This  success  has  led  even  the  tobacco  trade 
journals  to  admit  that  a  substitute  for  stable  manure  In  tobacco  cul¬ 
ture  is  possible.  The  Mapes  system  of  manuring  Is  fully  explained  In 
the  catalogue  issued  by  the  Mapes  Company. 
Artificial  Limbs. — There  are  few  who  realize  how  many  persons 
there  are  in  our  midst  wearing  artificial  arms  or  legs.  Fifty  years  ago 
when  a  man  lost  a  limb  there  was  little  for  him  to  do  but  to  stump 
through  the  remainder  of  his  life— a  hopeless  cripple.  To-day  there 
are  men  with  but  one  natural  leg  running,  climbing  ladders  and  riding 
bicycles,  so  that  their  misfortune  is  never  detected.  Mechanical  skill 
has  reached  a  high  development  In  this  branch,  and  a  good  share  of 
this  development  is  due  to  Mr.  A.  A.  Marks  of  701  Broadway,  New  York. 
For  40  years  Mr.  Marks  has  studied  how  to  imitate  the  muscles  and 
joints  of  human  arms  and  legs  and  his  success  has  been  little  short  of 
marvelous.  His  catalogue  of  400  pages  Is  a  remarkable  volume— 
thoroughly  Interesting,  and  our  readers  will  be  glad  to  examine  It. 
H. 
DO  YOU  USE 
J.  Baker  &  Bros.’ CompM?nu?ehrical 
Made  to  furnish  the  EXACT  PLANT  food  REQUIRED  for 
EACH  PARTICULAR  CROP. 
roe  Dairy  Sweepstakes,  The  Creamery  Sweepstakes, 
THE  GRAND  SWEEPSTAKES, 
VERMONT 
7ued  GOLD  MEDAL, 
Was  awarded  to  Huttcr  Made  by  the 
COOLEY  CREAMER  PROCESS. 
At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Vermont  Dairymen’s 
Association,  Jan,  12th  to  14th.  1892.  Is  not  this  a  grand 
victory, there  being  over  seventy  competitors;  the 
three  judges  stating  that  it  was  the  finest  lot  of  win¬ 
ter  butter  they  ever  saw.  This  makes  the 
23d  COLD  MEDAL 
awarded.  No  system  can  compare  with  the  Cooley 
Creamer.  Send  for  Full  Illustrated  Circulars. 
FARM  MACHINE  CO.,  Bellows  Falls,  Vt. 
Munuiucturers  of  Creamery  aud.  Dairy  Supplies. 
They  Supersede  the  Use  of  Stable  Manure. 
The  estimated  values  as  published  by  all  the  various  Agricultural  Experiment 
Stations  prove  their  vjorth.  The  opinions  of  prominent  agriculturists  who  have  used 
them  for  over  20  years  sustain  our  claim  that  they  will  produce  payirty  crops  of 
and  pure 
(  JTCJ  1  IA  I  ULC5. 
Large  and  solid  CABBAGE. 
The  heaviest  yield  of 
ONIONS. 
The  finest  colors,  heaviest  weights,  )  THD  APPfl 
and  best  burning  quality  [  '-'DriUCU, 
“A  A”  Ammoniated  Superphosphate  Standard  UnXlD.  Fertilizer. 
One  trial  of  these  goods  will  produce  results  easily  observed.  Secure  of  our 
agent,  or  of  us  direct  (215  Pearl  Street,  New  York)  our  pocket  memorandum 
book  “  Facts  for  Farmers,”  mailed  free. 
