142 
BUIST’S RELIABLE SEEDS 
Making a Hotbed 
In order to secure a supply of early vegetables, a hotbed frame is indispensable. 
It can be constructed by any one, at a very small cost; it consists of a wooden frame, 
generally six feet wide, and from six to sixteen feet long, according to the supply of 
early vegetables required; one side to be at least six inches higher than the other; the 
frame to be sub-divided by cross-bars; and each division covered by a glazed sash; the 
sides and ends should be joined by hooks and staples, to admit of its being taken apart 
and stored away when not required. After completion, place it on the manure-bed, pre¬ 
pared in the following manner: The frame should face the south or southeast; fill 
in about ten inches of rich pulverized soil, and allow it to stand a few days, giving it 
air by slightly raising the sash so that the fiery vapor or steam may escape. The seeds 
of Cabbage, Cauliflower, Egg Plant, Pepper, Tomato, and many other varieties may be 
sown, and the plants planted out as soon as the frosty weather is over. 
Preparing Manure for Hotbeds.—Fresh stable manure only; not exceeding six 
weeks old, is suitable for this purpose. Turn it over into a compact heap, protected 
from heavy rains or snow; allow it to remain so for about eight days, when it should 
be made up into the requisite form to suit the frame. To insure more uniform heating 
a layer of straw is used to cover the manure. Egg plant requires strong heat to 
vegetate it; for such the hot material will require to be two feet thick. Where the 
ground is quite dry, a very good method is to dig a space about eighteen inches deep, 
and put the manure therein; tramp it firmly and evenly, place thereon the frame and 
sash; put in the rich earth, and in about four days sow the seed, having previously 
stirred the earth freely to destroy any seeds or weeds therein. 
The Cold Frame is a simple construction of boards for wintering Cabbage, Lettuce, 
Cauliflower, or Broccoli, for planting out early in Spring. Select a dry Southern exposure; 
form a frame from four to six feet wide, and as long as is required. The back should 
be fourteen inches, and the front six inches high, with a cross-tie every six feet. Seeds 
of Cabbage, Lettuce, Cauliflower, and Broccoli, sown in the open border early in September, 
will be ready to plant into the cold frame about the end of October. The soil should be 
well prepared and smoothly raked before planting. 
The Cold Pit—This is a structure in very general use for growing Cauliflowers 
during Winter. The situation must be dry and well sheltered, having a south or south¬ 
east exposure. Dig out a space two feet deep, and eight feet wide, if for brick, and nine 
feet wide if for stone. Build the back wall four and a half feet high; that will be two 
and a half feet above ground, and three feet high in the front. If the ground is not 
dry, and is subject to underwater, and draining cannot be effected, do not dig so deep, 
and surround the walls with two feet thick of earth, which will keep the frost from 
penetrating them. If Cauliflower is to be planted, put into the pit three feet of leaves 
from the woods; tramp them firmly, over which put one foot of rich earth; after it 
remains for two weeks it will be ready for the plants. Six plants for each sash of four 
feet will be enough. The space between may be filled up with Lettuce plants or a sowing 
of Radish. 
The Hot Pit—Constructed in the same manner as the Cold Pit, but having the appli¬ 
ances of artificial warmth, either by hot manure and leaves, about half and half, firmly 
trampled into the bottom, two and a half to three feet thick; or one-half fresh tanner’s 
bark, half dried, mixed with hot manure, is very efficient, over which place about one foot 
of earth. In about two weeks the heat will have subsided sufficiently to admit of Cucumbers 
being planted, or any other seeds or roots requiring artificial warmth to forward their 
growth. 
