110 VEGETABLE GARDENING 



falling on it runs off easily and quickly. Hotbed sash can 

 be bought of sash manufacturers or may be made at home 

 by any person having a fair amount of mechanical ingenuity. 



Shutters are desirable for covering the glass of hotbeds 

 and cold frames. They are generally made of second 

 fencing, matched and dressed, and in size of the same 

 width as the sash but about six inches longer with a six- 

 inch cleat on each end. 



The mats are often made of straw, but cloth and burlap 

 mats are sometimes used. Straw mats are probably as 

 good as any kind and are easily made as follows: Make a 

 frame of 2x4 inch lumber the size of the mats desired; 

 four feet wide and one foot longer than the sash 

 is a convenient size. Stand this frame up against a 

 wall and tightly stretch four or five tarred strings eight to 

 ten inches apart from top to bottom so as to evenly divide 

 the four feet of width. Have as many balls of lighter 

 tarred strings as there are strings fastened to the frame, 

 and fasten one to each upright string at the bottom. Com- 

 mence at the lower end by laying a wisp of straw, cut ends 

 out, on the string at the bottom and fasten it there by 

 twisting each of the smaller strings once around the straw 

 and the upright strings. Next put on another wisp of 

 straw, and so continue until the frame is covered. 



Mats thus made are an admirable protection against 

 frost and are far better than shutters alone. The advantage 

 of having shutters in addition to the mats is that they keep 

 the mats from getting wet, when they are so heavy that they 

 break easily in handling or they freeze solid and do not lie 

 close or are clumsy to handle. Rye straw is best for mats 

 and it is most tough and durable when cut partially green. 

 It is often threshed by hand so that the straw can be kept 

 straight, but it may be cleaned by a threshing machine by 



