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Show HOW TO PREPARE A HOTBED By O. M. Morris, Horticulturist Collect unheatod manuro from tho horso barns and mix with the pure manuro an equal amount of straw that has been used for bedding. Fork this over well and pllo in a. heap and let stand for about two days. It it does not start to heat in this ttmo moisten tho entire pl'o with warm water. Prepare a pit for tho manuro bed. This should bo located on the south side of buildings with a good expos-uro expos-uro to tlio sun. Tho pit should be about two feet deep, not over six feet wide and as long as desired. It is preferablo to have tho long measure meas-ure east and west. As soon as tho manure has started to heat woll, It should bo placed in tho pit carefully careful-ly tramped. This Is tho host method meth-od of packing ln tho manuro evenly ln nil parts of tho bod. If It seems dry add enough water to dampen, but do "not npply enough to saturato tho bed. Let the bed Btand until It Is heating well throughout, then cover with llvo or six Inches of good garden loam. Let this stand for three or four days and then work down the surface with a rako and. tho bed is ready for seeding. A broad frame ten or twelvo inches inch-es high on tho south and doublo that on the north, should bo plated about the bed whon tho pit Is prepared. Tho glass sash or cloth covering used should bo placed on as soon as tho manuro Is packed In. A bed prepared ln this way will furnish hent nbout six weeks. Tho temporature will run high nt tho start and gradually go down. At tho end of six weoks the hot bed bo-comes bo-comes a cold framo and will protect p'nnts from frosts but not hard trcozos. Utah Farmer. |