HOTBED AND COLD FRAME 



top. Even in the most severe weather if the 

 protection has been on for twenty-four hours 

 the sash should be lifted a crack to let out the 

 steam and bad air and in this way prevent the 

 plants from growing spindly and white. 



Catch Crops. Cucumbers and summer 

 squash and crops that require heat, such as we 

 get by June 1, in the North, must necessarily 

 be protected during April and May. This 

 may be done easily while the seedlings are 

 growing in the hotbed by placing a few seeds 

 of these vines about one foot apart at least 

 four weeks before the seedlings are removed 

 to the cold frames. They germinate, grow to 

 about eight inches or more in length before the 

 sash is removed for the summer and, with the 

 rich manure beneath and the four inches of 

 fine soil on the surface, the vines grow rapidly 

 and bear a large and early crop. 



The Cold Frame is a much cheaper construc- 

 tion, requires no excavation, no heating ma- 

 terial or even glass covering. It may be con- 

 structed by nailing four twelve inch boards to- 



105 



