144 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



soil thermometer should be used. When the temperature has 

 passed below So" 1 or 70° there will nor be much danger of losing the 

 plants. 



The proper size of sash to be used is not longer than six feet 

 and not wider than three feet. Regular hotbed sash are made 

 with the sash bars running one way, the glass being lapped the 

 other way. This lap should not be more than one-quarter of an 

 inch, for if more water collected in between the glass would freeze 

 and crack the glass. The best putty to use for hotbed sash is 

 liquid putty. This is made by mixing one-third boiled linseed oil. 

 one-third white lead and one-third putty. This can be applied 

 easiest with a putty bulb. All joints should be well painted before 

 being put together. 



Only by experience can one learn how to manage a hotbed. 

 There are a few principles and cautions, however, which may en- 

 able one to arrive at the knowledge sooner, and with less loss than 

 by blind experience only. The things to be sought, so far as the 

 plants are concerned, are specimens which are ready at the re- 

 quired season, which are stock}- and which have made a continu- 

 ous, healthy growth. The things to avoid are, the chilling of the 

 plants, too hot and too close atmosphere, which tend to make the 

 plants soft; crowding the plants, which tends to make them weak 

 and spindling; growing the plants too far from the light, which 

 also tends to make them soft and weak; the scalding of the plants 

 by the hot sun, an injury which is very likely to occur when the 

 sun comes out after a long spell of dark or cold weather or water- 

 ing plants when the sun shines too warm; the wilting of the plants, 

 due to too great heat and too little moisture. 



The principal features of the actual management of a hotbed 

 may be noted as follows: (1) maintaining the heat, (2) watering, (3) 

 ventilating, (4) hardening off, (5) transplanting. 



Above all things the plant should be stocky when it is put in 

 the field. A stockv plant is one which is comparatively short and 

 thick, is able to stand alone and which has a normal bright green 

 color. 



The maintenance of ordinary hotbeds depend on the quality 

 and the amount of manure. Heat will ordinarily fail sooner if 

 the hotbed is above ground, and much exposed to winds. It may 

 also be lessened by careless watering, particularly by soaking the 

 manure. Not only should the heat from the fermenting manure 

 be maintained, but care should be taken to prevent too much of 

 the heat from escaping. This is an important caution in very cold 



