244 FIELD AND GARDEN PRODUCTS 



showing five plants in a cross section. Earth is piled against and 

 over this array of cabbage until the plants, including the roots, are 

 entirely covered. In a severe climate, a layer of manure may be 

 added when cold weather arrives. 



For storing parsnips, salsify and horse-radish, which are un- 

 injured by freezing, the roots may be placed in a pile on the ground 

 and covered with about six inches of earth. The advantage of stor- 

 ing in this manner, instead of allowing the roots to remain where 

 they grew, is the saving in time of digging, when a few roots are 

 wanted during the winter. It is much easier to open the pit when 

 the ground is frozen than to dig roots from the garden with a pick. 

 In fact, the difficulty of digging almost precludes the use of these 

 crops in midwinter unless they are more accessible than in the place 

 where they grew. 



Beets, carrots, turnips, rutabagas, kohl-rabi and Irish potatoes 

 can also be stored in outdoor pits, but they must be covered suffici- 

 ently to prevent freezing. One of the best ways of handling these 

 crops is to place them in a conical pile and cover first with six or eight 

 inches of hay or straw, then with earth to a similar depth. If ex- 

 tremely cold weather is expected, a layer of manure should be placed 

 outside of the earth. In getting vegetables from pits of this kind 

 in midwinter, the manure is removed slightly from one side of the 

 pit near the bottom and a hole about a foot square chopped through 

 the frozen earth with an old ax. Sufficient hay is then pulled out by 

 means of an iron hook, to enable a person to thrust his arm into the 

 opening and reach the vegetables. (U. 111. 154.) 



EARLY PLANTS IN HOTBEDS. 



The most common method of starting early plants in the North 

 is by means of a hotbed. The hotbed consists of an inclosure 

 covered with sash and supplied with some form of heat, usually fer- 

 menting stable manure, to keep the plants warm and in a growing 

 condition. As a rule, the hotbed should not be placed within the 

 garden inclosure, but near some frequently used path or building 

 where it can receive attention without interfering with other work. 

 The hotbed should always face to the south, and the south side of 

 either a dwelling, barn, tight board fence, hedge, or anything afford- 

 ing a similar protection, will furnish a good location. The hotbed 

 should be started in February or early in March, in order that such 

 plants as the tomato and early cabbage may be well grown in time 

 to plant in the open ground. There are two or three forms of hot- 

 beds that are worthy of use. 



A temporary hotbed, such as would ordinarily be employed on 

 the farm, is easily constructed by the use of manure from the horse 

 stable as a means of furnishing the heat. Select a well-drained loca- 

 tion, where the bed will be sheltered, shake out the manure into a 

 broad, flat heap, and thoroughly compact it by tramping. The 

 manure heap should be 8 or 9 feet wide, 18 to 24 inches deep when 

 compacted, and of any desired length, according to the number of 

 sash to be employed. The manure for hotbed purposes should con- 

 tain sufficient litter, such as leaves or straw, to prevent its packing 



