CHAPTER XXII 

 FRAME CROPS 



Frames vs. greenhouses. It is generally conceded that 

 greenhouses, especially in northern sections, possess, for 

 the forcing of most vegetables, distinct advantages over 

 frames. This subject was discussed more fully on 

 page 13. It would be folly, however, to take the stand 

 that there is no place for the use of frames in the forcing 

 of vegetables, for this is far from the truth. Even many 

 of our most successful and extensive northern greenhouse 

 vegetable growers have large areas of frames. They are 

 adapted to the growing of certain crops, especially the 

 cool ones, such as lettuce, radish, cauliflower and other 

 hardier classes, as, for instance, the dandelion. They find 

 a most useful place in the operations of gardeners living 

 near the seashore, particularly southward, where the ex- 

 tremes of temperature are not so great as in farther in- 

 land northern districts. In the warmer sections of the 

 country, some crops, as head lettuce, thrive much better 

 in frames than in superheated greenhouses. 



Gardeners with limited capital can engage in vegetable 

 forcing by purchasing only a few sash. As the profits 

 increase, additional sash may be obtained, so that in the 

 course of a few years an important enterprise may be 

 established. Frequently the sash are used in the con- 

 struction of cheap greenhouses, and in these greenhouses 

 the process of evolution is followed by large modern 

 ranges. 



Importance of frame forcing. Very large areas in 

 various parts of the country are devoted to frame crops. 

 The most extensive plantings are in North Carolina, 

 though frames are used on a large scale in all of the South 



387 



