POTS OF SEED SUNK IS MOSS. 



t>y the sides and ends of the frame. When the sun gets pretty warm, give the glass a thin coat 

 of whitewash. This gives a little shade, and, with some air during the middle of bright days, 

 will make all safe. The hot-bed is made by forming a pile of horse manure with the straw used 

 for bedding, or leaves, some three feet in height. Shake all together, so that straw and manure 

 will be equally mixed. It may be sunk in the ground a foot or eighteen inches, or made on the 

 surface. On this place about five inches of good mellow soil. Then set the frame and keep it 

 closed until fermentation takes place and the soil is quite warm. It is better to wait a day or 

 two after this, and then sow the seeds. The principal advantages of a hot-bed can be secured 

 "by what is called a cold-frame. This is simply a hot-bed frame, with sash, as shown in the 

 engraving, placed upon a bed of fine, mellow earth, in some sheltered place in the garden. By 

 the exclusion of air and the admission of sun, the earth becomes warm, and the moisture is 



confined, as in the hot-bed. After the frame is secured in its 

 place, a couple of inches of fine earth should be placed inside, 

 and the frame closed up for a day or two before the seeds are 

 planted. As the cold-frame depends upon the sun for its 

 warmth, it must not be started as soon as the hot -bed, and in 

 this latitude the latter part of April is soon enough. Plants 

 will then be large enough for transplanting to the open ground 

 as soon as danger from frost is over, and, as a general thing, they will be hardier and better able 

 to endure the shock of transplanting than if grown in a hot-bed. A frame of this kind any one 

 can manage. Watering occasionally will be necessary ; and air must be given on bright, warm 

 days. Shade also is necessary. These frames, when so small as to be conveniently moved by 

 the hand, are called hand-glasses. A simple frame or box, with a couple of lights of glass on 

 the top, will answer a very good purpose, though when small it would be better to have the front 

 of glass. A very good hand-glass is made of a square frame, with a light of glass at each side 

 and on the top. These contrivances, though so simple as to be made by any one handy with 

 tools, are exceedingly useful, as they prevent the drying of the surface of the ground, and afford 

 the plants shelter from sudden changes of the temperature, cold storms and frosty nights. The 

 engravings show several forms of which they may be made. Seeds may be sown in the house in 

 pots, &c., but the greatest difficulty is that in pots the soil dries very rapidly, and young plants 

 are apt to suffer. A very good plan is to cover the pots with glass, as we have shown in the 

 engraving, removing it occasionally for air, &c. Where very fine seeds are sown in pots, the 

 watering, unless carefully done, generally results in great injury. A wet paper placed over the 

 top of the pot will afford moisture enough for the germination of fine seeds. If pots are used 

 it is well to sink them to the rim in a box of moss, or something of the kind, that will hold 

 moisture, and prevent the diying of the earth in the pots. A shallow box may be used to 

 advantage, sowing the seed carefully in narrow drills. 



When these conveniences are not to be had, make a bed of light, mellow soil, in a sheltered 

 situation in the garden; and as soon as the weather becomes settled, and the ground warm, sow 

 the seeds, covering them with a little fine earth, and if very 

 small sift it upon them. Some one has given as a rule that 

 seeds should be covered twice the depth of their own diameter; 

 that is, that a seed one-sixteenth of an inch through should be 

 covered one-eighth of an inch. Perhaps that is as near correct 

 as any general rule can be. If the weather should prove dry 

 after sowing, it would be well to cover the beds of very small 

 seeds with damp moss, or what is better, with evergreen boughs or boards, or something that 

 will afford partial protection from the sun and wind. A very good plan is to nail lath to a frame, 

 as shown in the engraving, leaving the open spaces about as wide as the lath. Seeds do not 

 require light for their germination, and will grow quite as well in the dark as the light until 

 they are above ground. Bell-glasses are convenient both for in-doors or garden use, only care 

 must be given to afford plenty of air, especially on bright days, and shading may be necessary. 

 An inverted flower pot answers almost as good a purpose, but when the young plants are up 

 they will need light, which can be afforded for a few days, and until the plants are large, by 

 elevating the pot, as shown in the engraving. Light and air should be furnished as soon as the 

 plants are above ground, or they will become weak and pale. Of course, it is designed that 



9 



SEEDS IN A BOX. 



