No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 287 



watering will not be necessary for at least a week or ten days. This 

 is a decided advantage in preventing the damping off of the young 

 plants. Fit the boxes in the cold frame so that little or no space is 

 lost, ventilate freely when the weather permits and water when 

 necessary. It is important to watch the corners of the flats, as the 

 soil drys much more rapidly than in the interior of the boxes. 



PROTECTING THE PLANTS FROM COLD. 



Transferring to the cold frame usually begins about the first of 

 March. The nights are always cold at this season of the year and it 

 is necessary to make some provision for the protection of the plants. 

 Nothing is better than burlap or rye straw mats. We have used 

 the latter with entire success and have kept plants in cold frames 

 with no bottom heat during zero weather. If the sash are 3x6 feet 

 in size the mats should be 6x6^. Each mat will then cover two sash 

 and lap over the ends of them to prevent the cold from entering 

 along the sides of the frame. The mats are made quite rapidly if 

 long straw is used. Two men will make five or six a day. To make 

 these mats, proceed as follows: Prepare a frame 6x7 feet in size. 

 Place it flat on two trestles at convenient working distance from the 

 floor. At each end of the frame, near the edge, bore 7 three-quarter 

 inch holes, the space being equal between them. Drive in each hole 

 a strong peg, Stretch tightly between these pegs seven strands of 

 the best quality of tar-rope. Take seven other strands and tie to 

 the pegs at one end of the frame. Place small bundles of straw 

 tops overlapping across the stretched ropes at the end of the frame, 

 pass the second lot of ropes over the bundle, down under the 

 stretched cords and up again, drawing as tightly as possible. Pro- 

 ceed in this manner until the mat is complete. Tie the ends of the 

 ropes together^ trim the mat and it is ready for use, 



HARDENING THE PLANTS. 



Cabbage, lettuce and cauliflower transplanted in the cold frame 

 about the first of March should be large enough for the field by the 

 first of April. To take them direct to the field from their warm 

 home under the glass would prove disastrous to the tender plants, 

 unless they were first subjected to a hardening process. This must 

 be gradual. Begin by ventilating more than usual in the day-time, 

 in a day or two remove the sash entirely through the day, then do 

 not cover sash with the mats at night and finally give no protection 

 during either day or night. If the plants are thoroughly hardened 

 in the frames they will stand severe freezing in the field. This is 

 true of the three vegetables named. It is also a decided advantage 

 to harden tomato and other tender plants before setting in the field. 



