-504 PRIZE GARDENlNGt 



were watered, and while the sun shone, from 9 a. m. to 

 4 p. m., the sash over the plants was covered with a 

 cloth for two days. They were watered and aired as 

 required, and the ground stirred about them with a 

 dung fork about once a week until they were ready to 

 set out of doors. 



A Very Practical Gardener and contestant, G. J. 

 Townsend of Wayne county, New York, describes 

 his successful hotbeds and cold frames as follows : My 

 hotbeds are eighteen feet long and five feet Vvide. 

 Used two-inch plank twelve inches wide. The most of 

 the sashes are three by five feet. Some are three by six 

 feet, but the three by five feet are the most convenient 

 size. I dug out about two feet deep, filled with good 

 fresh horse manure that had commenced to heat. 

 Tramped well, then put on about four or five inches of 

 dirt that had been worked well the year before, and 

 middling dry. I put on the sashes about three or four 

 weeks before making. Work over the dirt some and 

 the sun will dry it out ; then shovel it out one side, and 

 take out old manure and put in fresh. The best dirt 

 is a good sandy loam. Put on dirt and sashes, let 

 stand for a week or so until rank heat passes off. Give 

 air in the daytime. Put a thermometer in. 



I worked the dirt fine on a sunny March day in the 

 hotbeds and sowed the seed one-half or three-fourths 

 inch deep in drills three inches apart. I sowed and 

 covered by hand, then watered them. Gave some air on 

 sunny days. When tomatoes are up keep watch of the 

 thermometer that it does not get below forty-two or 

 above eighty long. Let air in on sunny days from nine 

 or ten o'clock to about three or four, and a little on 

 cloudy days if not too cold. To let off dampness 

 when tomatoes come up until second leaves appear, 

 water very little, but keep the ground just moist. If 

 they commence to damp off I loosen the ground 



