CONSTRUCTION AND CARE OF HOTBEDS 



The space back of and between the wall and 

 hotbed may be utilised for the growing of vines, 

 and so render beautiful what might otherwise prove 

 barren and unsightly. This would be an excellent 

 position in which to grow a vine or two of the 

 Niagara grape, as the building would afford it the 

 protection it needs and the position on the south 

 wall the necessary amount of sunshine and heat. 



In renewing hotbeds and pits, the old manure 

 in the bottom should be separated from the soil and 

 thrown in a pile by itself, and may be used as a 

 top dressing for bulb-beds, shrubbery, and the like. 



The plant pit is another very useful adjunct to 

 the garden, especially in the Middle and Southern 

 States, but is of little use at the North, where it is 

 only available for the wintering of tender roses, 

 carnations, and the like plants which require to 

 be kept dry more than to be protected from frost. 



It is possible, however, to make use of the pit 

 for the raising of winter lettuce, radishes, and the 

 like, when it can be constructed in connection with 

 the cellar, and so receive heat from the furnace or 

 other source. When this is undertaken, an excava- 

 tion should be made on a south wall, reaching 



down to the cellar bottom and having an entrance 



[73] 



