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Show j The Standard's U. A. C. Bureau I Articles of Interest to Farmers, Housekeepers and Others Written for The Standard by Experts at Utah's Noted I Agricultural College at Logan I! MANAGINNG THE HOTBED By . ! T. H. Abell, Assistant Horticulturist, U. A. C. Properly managing a hotbed is an exacting bit o work. The hotbed cannot can-not be left for a day at a time to look "after itself, especially in early spring. It requires frequent If not "constant care ' The question is often asked, "At Avhat temperature shall I keep my hotbed?" hot-bed?" For hardy cool season crops ; like cabbage, cauliflower and celery, it should run from -15 degrees at night to 65 degrees Fahrenheit at midday. For the tender war season crops "it .should nm from 60 degrees at night to 85 degrees Fahrenheit in the day. This does not mean that these two kinds of crops cannot be raised at the u same temperature, but best results are obtained at the temperature suggested. If many planls are to bo raised, heat one hotbed with a mixture of cow and . horse manure and delay planting until the temperature is down to SO degrees Fahrenheit. This bed will do for the cool season crops, and it may receive I more ventilation. Heat another bed j "with pure horse manure and straw. I This bed will be -warmer and more I suitable for warm season tender crops. I When only one small bed is to be I made, divide It with a partition and I ventilate the two sides differently to II secure the difference In tempera'ture. , Plants in hotbeds require lots of air at all times; even at night the covers should be left open slightly. On severe se-vere nights they may be covered itght-ly itght-ly and enough air will leak In to provide pro-vide good ventilation. Never allow cold drafts to strike the plants. Lift the sash or covers on the opposite side from which the wind blows. j Watering the plants in little dabs frequently is a bad practice because ft vets only the top soil and the planls become very shallow rooted, and wheni the soil dries a bit the plants wilt. It is much more satisfactory to give the bed a thorough drenching on sunny mornings. T-he water penetrates deeply deep-ly into the soil, making the plants deep rooted, and the plants and top soil have a chance to dry before night. An evening watering leaves the bed in a moist warm condition which favors the growth of fungous diseases. Plants in the hotbed require shade only when they are first transplanted and on hoi dry afternoons when they are young. After the plants become older they should be toughened to hot dry weather. Be sure that there is ample protection protec-tion provided for cold snowy weather that so often comes suddenly in the spring. Boards, straw, straw mats, old quilts or blankets, and canvas are all useful for protecting a hotbed in cold weather. |