CHAPTER III. 



HOTBED AND COLD FRAME. 



The hotbed and the cold frame is a very important and a 

 very necessary adjunct to the commercial as well as to the 

 home garden. Few people realize the importance of some 

 form of glass. It is not only important in connection with 

 the production of early plants but also valuable for the grow- 

 ing to maturity of lettuce and radishes, either early in the 

 spring or late in the fall. Glass is regarded as being prac- 

 tically indispensable for many garden operations. In certain 

 sections of the country it is a positive necessity especially 

 where certain crops are grown, as, for example, the tomato 

 or the pepper. 



In addition to the use of glass for the forcing of early 

 vegetables, it is valuable for the winter protection of partially 

 hardy plants. The greatest economic use is probably in the 

 hastening of the growth of certain crops as well as extending 

 the growing period of others. 



HOTBEDS. 



The advantages of hotbeds may be summed up briefly 

 under the following heads: (1) Crops can be matured and 

 harvested earlier, thus gaining the advantage of better 

 prices. (2) By starting plants under glass two or more crops 

 may be grown on the same land during a growing season. 



(3) In sections of the country where the growing season is 

 short, such crops as tomatoes, melons and peppers, can only 

 be successfully matured by starting the plants in the hotbed. 



(4) Where the plants are large when they are set in the field, 

 there is less danger of loss by insects and diseases, as well as 

 less injury from weeds. (5) Because of the longer growing 

 season afforded some crops, larger yields are obtained. 



