CHAPTER XXIII 

 RAISING PLANTS 



Usually the farmer buys such plants as he cannot raise 

 early enough from seed sown in the prepared ground. Early 

 cabbage and tomato plants are usually bought from market 

 gardeners. Where one wishes to produce his own plants, 

 hot-beds and cold frames are necessary. 



A hot-bed is a box-like affair containing a good deal of ma- 

 nure in the bottom, over which is a layer of earth. The top 

 is covered with window sash to let in the sun and keep out 

 cold. The hot-bed can be of any convenient size. It is usually 

 four to six feet wide, according to the length of the sash to be 

 used for covering. Planks two inches thick and twelve inches 

 or more wide are used for the back, which should be toward 

 the north. The plank for the front should be half as wide as 

 the back plank. This permits the sash to slope to the south 

 and catch the sun. The planks that, close the ends will have 

 to be cut sloping from the back to the front. The planks are 

 held in place by strong stakes and by nailing the ends. The 

 soil on the inside can be dug out and used to bank up against 

 the planks on the outside. This helps to keep it warm inside. 



Fresh manure from the horse stables is used to fill in the 

 bottom of the hot-bed. It is made a foot or more deep, 

 according to the time of the year; if in early March it may be 

 twenty inches or more deep. Before putting the manure into 



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