104 VEGETABLE GARDENING 



notably the tomato, produce larger crops when started 

 under glass. (8) As the vegetables will be harvested 

 considerably earlier, there may be time to start a cover 

 crop. This is of great advantage in soils lacking humus. 



153. The extent used. Before greenhouses became so 

 popular as they are today, hotbeds were universally em- 

 ployed whenever glass was required to start early plants. 

 Although hotbeds, in many cases, have been replaced 

 by greenhouses, they are still used extensively by grow- 

 ers in all parts of the country. Almost every farm 

 home operates a hotbed in the spring. This structure is 

 of great importance to village gardeners who pride them- 

 selves upon the earliness of their products. Many renters 

 also depend upon hotbeds, because they may be forced to 

 vacate the property upon short notice and are naturally 

 unwilling to spend much money in constructing perma- 

 nent greenhouses. Hotbeds are inexpensive, and the 

 amount of space devoted to them may be increased from 

 year to year without much outlay. In addition, they do 

 not require attention at night, as do the furnaces of green- 

 houses. On the other hand, hotbeds are inferior to 

 greenhouses in every particular, although with skillful 

 management they produce excellent results. 



154. Location and arrangement. Hotbeds should be 

 located so that a liberal supply of water is accessible. 

 The most convenient plan so far as water is concerned 

 is to install the overhead system of irrigation (122) and 

 also to make provision for hose connections. Spigots, 

 with underground cut-offs, should be placed between the 

 frames, at intervals not exceeding 100 feet. 



The hotbeds should also be convenient to the farm 

 buildings, and to a room which can be made warm and 

 comfortable for the work of sowing and transplanting. 

 The frames require frequent attention some days, and a 

 convenient location is important for this reason. 



Protection from severe north and west winds is a great 



