April, 
80 
HOT-BEDS. 
It is ii common, but mistiiken notion, tliiit 
hot-beds derive, or at least should derive, .i 
considerable portion of their heat from the 
sun. Prob.ibly more than half of those who 
construct hot-beds believe that the glass is 
used to admit the warmth of the sim. Ihe 
tnith of the matter is that the office of the 
glass is to admit light, andnot warmth, and the 
warmth derived from the sun frequently 
does more harm than good. 
The chief som-ce of heat is the manure 
used in tlie foundation of the bed. Its fei- 
mcntation can alone produce sufficient heat 
to germinate the seeds and keep the plants 
growing, and it is sufficient for this; wliilc 
the heat derived fi'om the sun, being con¬ 
fined to the middle of the day, and totally 
lacking at night, destroys the equability of 
temperature essential to the best results, 
and which can easily be had when only the 
manure is depended upon for heat. 
As the heat of the sun is not essential, 
and as the chances :u’e that it is on the 
whole injurious, the hot-bed is best built in 
some situation shaded fi’om the direct raj’s 
of the sun. However, it should not be in an 
exposed situation, for that is only increas¬ 
ing the difficulties to be overcome by the 
fermentation of the manure. I would ad¬ 
vise that it be situated on a southern slope, 
or better, m the lee of buildings. A splen¬ 
did ijlace is in the area protected by a straw 
stack built in the shape of an L- 
To the growth of the plant, not to the 
germination of the seeds, however, light is 
absolutely essential. Hence, while the heat 
of the sun is cut oil', the light must be freely 
admitted. This is why the covering is proi> 
erly of glass or some other transparent or 
translucent substance—to admit light. By 
building a high shelter over the bed the 
heat of the sun is intercepted, but not the 
light; and a hot-bed so sheltered will give 
the best results. 
It follows, then, that glass is not essential; 
anj' substance which will freely admit the 
light will answer; and where the'hot-bed is 
not shaded from tlie sun. there are other nm- 
terials better for the tojj than is glass. Such a 
material is white cotton cloth of a close tex- 
tm-e, treated as follows: Stretch it and nail 
it on the frame, llien mix 2 ounces of 
Ihue-water, 4 ounces of linseed oil. 1 ounce 
of white of eggs, separately; 2 ounces of 
yolk of eggs; mix the lime and oil with a 
very gentle heat; beat the eggs separately, 
and mi.x with the former. AVith this mix¬ 
ture coat the cloth, using a paint brush; 
continue coating till the cloth becomes water¬ 
proof, allowing each coat to diy before an¬ 
other is applied. This cloth costs only 
about one-fomth as much as the same area 
of glass, and i-eiiairs are corj-es])oiiding)y 
cheaper and much nioi'C easily made. A 
further advantage is that while the cloth ad¬ 
mits the light freely it excludes the heat of 
the sun from the hot bed. 
The heat all comes from below, and the 
temperature of the bed is equable; and no 
matter how warm the sun, the l)ed does not 
require watering, and the plants ai-e nevei' 
struck down or checked in their gi-owtb. 
The i)hints also grow more stocky and 
liardy. As the readei’ knows, the gieat 
trouble with hot-bed grown plants is that 
they grow spindling and weak. Tiiis is be- 
Naturally 
;of the heat from the sun. 
cause 
the plants grow “'earer the heat 
ltisshutoli;the plmits ke^ 
from below, ahd t le^^ stockier 
root formation, v i ,„.i. 
stem. As the vap ■ _ o passing 
nure is drops inside, 
under the cloth, ■ s . .. p eondi- 
tnusplanting as those grown undei „l.i- ■ 
"Zm wind I have written, it 
that the object in making the north oi u e. t 
side of the frame the highest, is to w.m 
;inds and not secure the more dii^tffim- 
tration of the rays of the sun. 
bed is otherwise protected from cold winds, 
made level, and this 
the frame can be 
o-rcatly simplilies its construction. 
“ •' JOHN HI. Stahl. 
EARLY POTATOES IN NEW ENGLAND, 
For a readily salalde market crop, early 
Potatoes are highly prized with us. Early 
Ohio and Beauty of lleliron reach a market¬ 
able size (piicker than any otlmr variety we, 
have tried, if planted on high, dry land 
where they are not liable to be injured by 
spring frosts. 
About the 1st of April we iireiiare the. 
seed-pieces, usiug sound, marketable tubers. 
Ordinary-sized ones we use whole, very 
large ones we cut once or twice, leaving two 
strong eyes to a piece and cutting out the 
rest. After cutting we place in barrels or 
boxes and put in the cellar again for ten 
days or a fortnight until ready to plant, 
’file pieces diy oft' and harden but do not 
shrivel. Seed treated in this wa)^ makes a 
strong start and an oven stand, and the crop 
ripens evenlj'. 
As early as the ground can be worked we 
manure, plow and harrow thoroughly. Fur¬ 
row out the rows three and a half feet apart, 
make a loose, wide furrow five inches dee]), 
drop the seed-pieces eighteen inches apart, 
and just cover as lightly as i)ossible with 
earth. This can be done (juickly with the 
foot when dro])ping the seed. Then scatter 
.si)ecial fertilize]' or super-j)hos])hatc of lime 
along the row over the seed and cover all 
about two inches deep, thus leaving the toj) 
of the drill an inch oi- two below the sui'- 
fiice of the ground. 
Phmted in this way you can work tlui 
cro]) the lii-.st time to iiilvantage with the 
smoothing harrow. Cultivate shallow iind 
often iind lini.sh with the hoe, di'awing 
earth around the ])lants, sinothei'inc 
weeds !md iwiving the ground level. Poison 
the bugs, !md as .soon as the tubers iire of 
■size dig them with :i (ive-tined 
J'k A. JAjn.;.s. 
not give u payii^g crop can easily be ina(]g 
profitable by proper management. 
Eottecl bagasse thoroughly incorporated 
in the soil will do imich towards retaiifin,, 
moisture in light, s*>ncly soil tlnit will dry 
out rapidly. And if the soil is natui-aliy 
rich, it liberal application of this inatci-iiil is 
genci-ally idl that is necessary to supiily 
I'cquired plant-food. I Inivc found thiit on 
siindy soil it idwiiys ])iiys to use only well- 
rotted niiinure. Tlie special advantage for 
giirdcn work of ii light, loamy, .sandy .soil in 
working, is not only in pi-epai-ing the hind 
for seeding but also in cultivating and keep¬ 
ing it mellow. Coarse, raw manui-e destroys 
to a considerable extent this most valuable 
property, while in ajiplying a ferti'i'/.er, it 
should be done in such a way as to inci'ease 
rather than diminish the advantages such a 
soil possesses. If care is taken to line the 
manure well before a|,i)lying, the work of in- 
cor])orating it into the soil is conqiaratively 
easy of accomplishment. 
If fertility alone were needed, the very 
best plan would be to apply liquid manure, 
but it a material to retain moisture is ahso 
required, well-rotted stable manure is much 
better. Wliere baga.s.se can be procured in 
siifticient qujintities to he iLsed for bedding 
cattle, it furnishes the very best material 
for a compost intended to enrich a light, 
sandy soil and at the same time to retain its 
moisture. N. J. SHErilKKj). 
the 
any 
marketable 
garden fork. 
FRESH SPROUTS. . 
Successful gardening is a continuous war¬ 
fare with bugs and beetles, borers and grubs, 
worms and maggots. 
How much manure can be used with profit 
in the garden, is the leading question with 
the market gardener, not how little he may 
get along with. 
A Virginia fanner recommends to jirovide 
.Sweet Potatoes with brush or some other 
siqiport to climb upon, and thus prevent the 
vines from taking I'oot. 
It is estimated that a iiuarter of a million 
acres of Simllowers are grown in Ilussia. 
'File oil cxiiresscd from the seed is used 
mainly for industrial purposes. 
The object of experiment is primarily to 
establish facts, and secondarily to draw 
proper deductions from these facts in their 
various relations, says l)r. Stiirtevant. 
MANAGEMENT OP SANDY SOILS 
While sandy soil.s a,'e generally better 
.id.ipLed to gardening and the raising of i.,,,,] 
crops e.speeially, yet in a season of'droi 
iHiV-h'y out nniehniore rapidly tlia,I he,,riel; 
binds. A naturally li;rbt „„„ , ' 
th, 11 any other, provided it is rich enoimh i 
indiico f(iii(;k i^rowLh Kin- (ii*u 
...m.i .1,,, ,1.. 
As|)aragiis requires a good deal of potash. 
Cajit. John Moore has a bed of !in acre and 
a half, on iioor soil, which has never luid a 
shovelful of nuiniire, hut has heen dressed 
with phosphate of lime and pota.sh, and is 
growing nicely. 
Siiinach, unle.ss .sown very esirly insin'ing, 
is apt to go to seed before it is fit tor use. 
'File Hound-leaved is better than Savoy- 
leaved, and Eong-stniidlng is the best of all 
tor spring sowing. 
'Flic Ani<‘,t'iG<in Ovocer (estimates thatdurlng 
the past season there were put up 2, 
eases (or.|S,mw,2 lS cans) of Tomatoes, be¬ 
ing about one-third le.ss than the iiaek ot 
lHN;t, the decrease in acreage being heaviest 
in the Eastern States. 
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