THE VEGETABLE GARDEN I45 



weather the sash should be covered with something 

 to keep out the cold. The outside of the hotbed 

 should be banked with stable manure or earth. 

 Give the plants all the ventilation possible, but not 

 enough to chill them. This is important, because 

 it will make the plants stocky and strong. When 

 very strong plants are desired a cold frame will be 

 required. 



'' The cold frame is made similar to the hotbed, 

 but not so deep; 12 to 15 inches will be enough. 

 No heated manure is required, but decomposed 

 manure made as fine as possible and spread about 

 3 inches deep over the bottom is generally pre- 

 ferred. On this about 3 inches of good soil will 

 prepare the bed for the plants, which, when they 

 are a few inches tall, or, say, four weeks before the 

 time to plant in the open, may be taken out and 

 transplanted as deeply as possible, 4 or 5 inches 

 apart in the cold frame. They should be shaded 

 a few days from the sun and protected from frost 

 and cold. If the soil is at all dry it should be 

 wetted about the time of transplanting, but with 

 caution. If too wet and cold the plants will damp 

 off. These directions apply more particularly to 

 tomatoes, but eggplants and peppers are forwarded 

 by very much the same treatment. 



" When they become established give them all 

 the air and sun possible, taking off the sash in 

 favorable weather. Give only enough water to 

 keep growing well. Plants so treated should make 

 strong, sturdy ones, which should be in bloom 

 when ready to transplant in the open ground. When 

 the plants are to be removed a spade is thrust 

 under the manure in the bottom of the bed, and as 

 much earth as possible preserved with each one. 

 They are then put in boxes and taken to the field 



