CHAPTER X. 



MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS CONNECTED WITH THE BUILDING AND 

 CARE OF HOTBEDS AND GREENHOUSES. 



The sash for hotbeds or cold frames should be about 3x6 

 feet or 4x4i feet in size; the glass free from blisters, of double 

 strength and lapped not more than one-fourth of an inch. If 

 lapped more than this, water is liable to freeze in it and crack 

 it. It should be bedded in putty and nailed in, not puttied in. 

 Common window sash might be used for this purpose in a 

 small way, and temporarily, but it is not strong enough to 

 last well, and besides, as the sash bars run both ways and 

 project beyond the glass, the rain water cannot run off but 

 soaks the wood and leaks through into the hotbed, making it 

 too wet in places. Also, the cross bars in common window 

 sash make a needless extra shadow that is objectionable. 

 Regular hotbed sash is made with sash bars running only one 

 way so that the water falling on it runs off easily and quickly. 

 Hotbed sash can be bought of sash manufacturers or may be 

 made at home by any person having a fair amount of mechan- 

 ical ingenuity. 



Shutters are desirable for covering the glass of hotbeds and 

 cold frames. They are generally made of second fencing, 

 matched and dressed, and in size of the same width as the 

 sash but about six inches longer, with a six-inch cleat on each 

 end. 



The Mats are often made of straw, but cloth or burlap 

 mats are sometimes used. Straw mats are probably as good 

 as any kind and are very easily made as follows: Make a 

 frame of 2x4 inch lumber the size of the mats desired, four 

 feet wide and one foot longer than the sash is a convenient 

 size. Stand this frame up against a wall and tightly stretch 

 four or five tarred strings eight to ten inches apart from top 

 to bottom, so as to evenly divide the four feet of width. Have 

 as many balls of lighter tarred strings as there are strings 

 fastened to the frame, and fasten one to each upright string 



