HORSERADISH HOTBED 129 



Horseradish. As a kitchen garden vegetable, 

 this is usually planted in some out-of-the-way spot and a 

 piece of the root dug as often as needed, the fragments of 

 roots being left in the soil to grow for further use. This 

 method results in having nothing but tough, stringy roots, 

 very unlike the product of a properly planted and well 

 cared for bed. The best roots are those planted in the 

 spring at the time of setting early cabbage, and dug as late 

 the same fall as the weather will permit. It becomes, 

 therefore, an annual crop. The roots for planting are 

 small pieces, from 4 to 6 inches long, obtained when trim- 

 ming the roots dug in the fall. These pieces may be packed 

 in sand and stored until wanted the following spring. In 

 planting, the roots should be set with the upper end 3 inches 

 below the surface of the ground, using a dibber or sharp - 

 pointed stick in making the holes. The crop maybe planted 

 between rows of early-sown beets, lettuce or other crop, 

 and given full possession of the ground when these crops are 

 harvested. Where the ground is inclined to be stiff or the 

 subsoil is near the surface, the roots may be set in a slant- 

 ing position. In fact, many gardeners practice this method 

 of planting, thinking that the roots make a better growth 

 and are more uniform in size. 



Hotbed. A Hotbed is a frame or box which 

 has artificial heat and a transparent covering and in which 

 plants are grown. It differs from a coldframe (which see) 

 iu the fact that it has artificial bottom heat. This bottom 

 heat is usually supplied by fermenting organic matter, 

 chiefly horse manure, but hot air, hot water or steam con- 

 veyed in pipes, may be employed. It is covered with sash 

 of which the normal or standard size is 3 feet wide and 6 

 feet long. These sashes are laid crosswise the box or frame. 

 The standard size of frame is 6 feet wide and 12 feet long. 

 A "frame," therefore, accommodates four sashes. However, 

 the frame may be of any length desired. This frame is 

 ordinarily made of boards, and the back of it is 3 or 4 



