PRACTICAL GARDENING 



tomatoes and lettuce seed should be sown in 

 the hotbed. 



The Hotbed. A close observation must be 

 kept of weather conditions. With the alterna- 

 tion of clouds and sunshine, the sash of the hot- 

 bed must be closed or opened. Never allow 

 the cold rain to beat in on the young plants. 

 Ventilate early in the morning by lifting the 

 sash one to five inches at the highest elevation 

 of the hotbed. Later in the day the sash may 

 be drawn down at the bottom of the hotbed. 

 Close the sash about three or four o'clock in 

 the afternoon on bright days, so that the soil 

 may be warmed before the night sets in as the 

 hotbed retains much of this heat. Observe 

 carefully the frost records of previous years. 

 Keep mats near and use them on threatening 

 cold nights. 



The Soil. Don't be too ambitious to dig or 

 plow your garden before the soil is in condi- 

 tion. It should never be wet or cake as the 

 clod is turned over but should fall apart. 



If you have a clay soil add a little lime to 

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