THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



have grown large enough to handle, into fresh rows 

 or other hotbeds. Such plants as cabbage, cauli- 

 flower, and lettuce may be transplanted into cold- 

 frames or beds in the open ground, where they can 

 be protected with canvas in case of sudden drop of 

 temperature, and grown on until time for trans- 

 ferring to permanent positions in the garden. 



COLDFRAMES AND PITS 



The coldframe is simply a frame of boards pro- 

 vided with sash or other protective material, and 

 differs from the hotbed principally in that it has 

 no heating material or pit beneath it, but is set on 

 the surface of the ground. It has many uses and is 

 a valuable adjunct to the garden. In the small 

 home garden it is most useful for starting early 

 lettuce, for growing a few melons or cucumbers 

 ahead of the outdoor crop, or for carrying lettuce 

 and cauliflower through the winter in order to 

 have an early crop of these. It is also useful for 

 wintering plants of artichoke, which will not en- 

 dure the winter in the open ground at the North. 

 It is a very useful auxiliary of the hotbed when 

 used for transplanting the plants from those beds 

 in order to give more room to develop. A very 



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