Farm And Garden

Thorc are hotbeds and hotbeds. There is tlie badly constrocted bed that disappoiute and there is the complete well made bed which, whether set xiv after midwinter oramonth later, proves a success in its heating powers, in keeping its shape, and in yielding proñtable returns to the market or other gro large in proportdon tü its cost. The strpction of such a. hotbod is the subject of au illustrated description by Charles A. Long, in American Gardening: The locatiou should be oue that v.'ill admit of drainage f rom the excavation that is made to herid the manure, 'i'o have a bed that acts as a catch basin for water in case of a heavy thaw or a rainfall is too risky. If the bed be also Bheltered by au evergreen or other wind break, it means mnch iu retention of heat. First próvido sufficient space for the heating material. Eeferring to the jut, b shows a liotbed G feet wide, and the anara arnnud should liot be leSS than 8 feet, and in the north even 4 feet vvould bo 110 mistake ; in depth, 2 feet below the surfaco is about right. This calis for a largo stock of mairare, but tlie mannre not only gives a complete and paying bed, but it is afterward on band for enriching the garden. The foundation is a matter of importance, that the bed may retain an exact position without reference to the settling of the matínie. Ia the case illnstrated the foundation condsts of oak stakes ?% feet in lengtn, driven into ground to a depth of about 2 feet. For a four sash bed use 12 stakes (a in the sketch). These are driven home and capped by a plank ripped into three pieces, 5 or G inches wide and as long as the bed is to bc. The frame is set upou these planks as shown. Within this frame is a bottom made of 1 inch rougli boards which rest on the strips, and on this is placed the soil. Thus is the bed firm and will last for at least ten years. lo prevent hoavmg oí tne stakes previoua to makiu:? up timo in winter, some manare may bo piled arouud the base of eaeh. Li making the bed, remove the sash and the board bottom, then fill in the manare evcnly over the entire excavatiou c, trampïng it oniformly and finnly. Uuder the frame itsolf the rnanure is to bo brought up to the top of the strips that rest on the stakes. Indeed, it may bo brought several inches higher, counting on the boards and the soil to press it down to its proper place. Outsido tho frame the marrare isto bc piled to mato a slopo from tlie sash to the grovnxl levcl. The slope of the hotbed itsolf should ahvays be toward the south - that is, thesash exposed to the sub. In order to preserve as mach heat as possible r.o bet ter meaua can be employed thnn shatcers coveriug the manare as shov.-n i:i the engraving. These are made of thrce-fourths inch stuff secured with clinch nails to cross slats. They shcnld bc made of a size convcnicnt to liaudle. If, aftcr the heat bo somevvhat spent, any difficultybefoundin keeping up tho teim.i :aiure desired, the shutters may bo removed, soine of the lining thrown out and fresh manurc put in its place. Protection against coid must be giren in the shapc of sasb covers. Straw mats ure mach nsed, but best gardeners prefer wo( di n .hutters. The main reliauce as heating material for a hotbed is strawy horse nianure or a mixture of this and other fresh manurc. Forest leaves are excellent to mix with the tnanuro, as thcy decay slowly, tending to prolong fermentation and also tomakethe heatiug more uniform. Movablo Fcnce. A picce of feúco that one can ibotc about to inelose small areas for short periode of time is vvonderfully eonvenient on a farm. ïhe annexed out frora The Farm Journal shows how to malee the posts fcir such a fence. Put up ia a small rectanglc, tho corners will brace each side of the feuce endwiso, or, if preferred, the crosspiece and braces at the bottoru of every other post eau run lengthwise of the fencc. The whole fence, except tho light raila, can be made of four foot piokets. Nott's Excelsior is a fine dwarf pea. It is about three days later than the earliest smooth peas. Exonian and Snition are amoug the earliest talier wrinkled peas.