PALMER
SURPLUS & 2nd Hflnn SHOP
LOCA TED
BACK OF STEVE WARDS BLDG.
don't forget
TO SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL
FIRE DEPARTfilEPiT
AT THE COMING PALL
MARCH 12
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WINDOW DISPLAY
CO-OP •
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GIVE YOUR HOME THE
"riEiii look"
Wl TH
I'lELU WALLPAPER
PA I ITT
LIGHT FIXTURES
WE HAVE JUST WHAT
YOU NEED
GARDENS GET AN EARLY START
WITH HOTBEDS ■
According to Gordon specialists, onw need
not be a specialist in tho art of gardening
or oven on experienced hot bed operator in
order to use the Hot Bed—Cold nothod
of starting early plants. Ho’.ever, in spite
of the nany advantages in using this nethod
nary gardnors do not use it.
It is clained that little experience is
needed to construct and operate a hotbed,
Thu first thing that the garcfiicr needs to
have in nind is a favorablo location on the
south side of a building or slope rhero tho
bod will be roll protected from the rind.
Almost any fam should be able to find sene
spot that will nect this requirement.
Hot bod sash 8x6 nro obtainable fpon nearly
every garden supply house, F- r the av> rage
family " '.two sash will supply.all the
seedlings needed. Tro types of oloctrxc
hotbed kits are available. Ore contains
a soil thermostat which is buried at the
sane depth as the soil cable, thus control
ling the heat of the soil in the hotbed. Or
an air tlmmostat nay bo obtained "hich
will control the heat of the air,This tv alm
ost at can be used with light bulbs ..^d re
flectors, The thernostat for a’, electri
cally heated hotbed should bo sot to koon
the tcrrocrature at between 50 and 60 degrees.
Si>r.o gardcndrs place the soil cable, rhen
ono is used, about four inches belor the
surface; but others have found that hotter
results arc found rhen it is placed botroon
the rors of seedlings ruid pressed dom into
the soil its ovm thickness. T7hcm this
type is used, it is re come n do d that about
l/3 of the cable be left above the Surface
to maintain the air temperature above the
danger point,
Then there is tie old type of manure heated
hotbed. This requires an excavation of a
pit beneath the franc. If the hotbed is
to be used for one month, the excavation
should be 18 inches.
After the hole is due, place a stack of
fresh'manure, containing about onp-third
strar, near the pit about tro reeks before
it is planned to struct the hotbed. To start
the manure heating, dampen it rith a for
buckets of ram rater and reshuffle the
stack every for days in ordor to distribute
the heat. Place the manure in tie pit under
the frame rhen the hot bed goes into opera
tion. Fut approximately six inches of good
soil on top the manure under the frame to
serve as a seedbed.
A cinder fill of about six to eight Inches
about the frame ’■ill lessen the frost danger
and reduce the amount of heat needed. On
cold nights it might be a' good idea to cover
the frnnerith blankets,.
In planting the hotbed, the seeds can oit r
be broadcast or planted in rors. Cover
seeds lightly ar.d in ease of fine seeds i..
night be bcttcr^to cover the seed bed v5 .1
a pioco of burlap until the seeds gcriir
in order to ’-oopr them from being rashed c.d
rhilc the bed is' being, rate red.
Remember that plants need air. The sash
should be opened daily to let in fresh ..in
and to all or stale air to escape. As fa
days get rarmor, the riants should bc"hnr
encd-off"in a cold frame.
,1