FRAMES FOR HOT-BEDS. 



§S stated recently, the time is near 

 for beginning hot-bed work, and as 

 the " frame " must first be prepared 

 it may be as well perhaps to explain 

 how it is made. Common boards and a 

 sash will answer all purposes. Any one 

 with a square, saw and hammer, can 

 construct it for himself. The frame may 

 be from one to four sash in length, the 

 latter being about what can be made 

 from 14 ft boards. The most suitable 

 width to use without waste is 20 inches ; 

 allow two for the back of the frame 

 making it 20 inches high, which gives 

 sufficient pitch to the roof to shed rain 



ready for use. 



Pits for hot-beds are made by taking 

 out the soil to a certain depth and wall- 

 ing up the sides with boards or bricks. 

 On top of the wall, place a wooden 

 plate upon which the sash is to slide. 

 The advantages of a pit are manifold. 

 In the first place filled with manure in 

 the spring it forms the hotbed. After- 

 ward when the manure is taken out it is 

 a capital place to " summer over " many 

 plants which do not do well exposed to 

 hot, dry winds. Then in the fall it is just 

 the place to grow chrysanthemums, and 

 all winter with proper protection many 

 half-hardy plants can be nicely kept in 

 it. Tough prairie sod may be used for 

 the sides with good effect, provided the 

 land is low and the pit liable to collect 

 water. In the engravings are still other 



Fic. I07S. — HoT-EKii Fk.amks. 



and collect the rays of the sun. Purchase 

 the sash ready-made from the manufac- 

 turers, having it 6 ft long, 3 feet wide, 

 and yi thick. To make a four sash 

 frame then, we will want four 10 inch 

 boards 14 feet long, one of which must 

 be cut in two equal parts to form the 

 end pieces. Besides this, to secure a 

 strong frame it is better to have at each 

 corner a piece of 2x4 scantling, to which 

 the boards are nailed. Let the end 

 boards project 2 inches above the side 

 pieces to hold the sash in place. Then 

 fasten a strip 3 inches wide and i inch 

 thick to each side and to the upper end 

 on a level with the topand bottom boards. 

 This forms a slide upon which the sash 

 rests. Thus we have a homely frame 



styles of frames, which for certain pur- 

 poses will be found very useful. For 

 example, the upper one shows a span 

 shape ; that is, it has sash slanting each 

 way and hinged at the top. Such a 

 minature greenhouse, for summer use, 

 will be found convenient for growing 

 Chinese primroses, cinerarias, calceola- 

 rias, cyclamen and similar plants, even 

 azaleas, provided there is height enough, 

 will do finely. In the lower right hand 

 corner is a very modest affair and just 

 the thing to construct for the children's 

 garden. With it they may go through 

 the performances of their elders, and 

 thus find innocent employment, and cul- 

 tivate a love for flowers and gardening. — 

 Orange }udd Farmer. 



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