66 



THE USE OF GLASS 



as long as the sash, so that the ends may rest upon the sides of 

 the bed. These supporting strips afford a base on which to slide 

 the sash in opening the bed, and also insure good connections 

 between adjoining sash. 



About a week before seeds are to be planted, a fire is started 

 in the pit in order to warm the soil in the bed and put it in condi- 

 tion for working. A hot fire is required for several days to get the 

 bed into good condition for early planting, but after the soil has once 

 become warm much less fuel is needed to keep up sufficient heat. 



CONSTRUCTION' OF COLDFRAMES 



The construction of a coldframe is similar to that of a manure 

 hotbed, except that the frame is placed directly upon the ground 



Fig. 3S.— Cl<-tl 



n-ered coldframe ciirhtv-four 



instead of being upon a pile of manure or over a pit containing 

 manure. For use early in the season, the sides of the coldframe 

 are well banked with manure. For hardening-off plants late in 

 the season, such banking is unnecessary. Temporary coldframes 

 may be made by setting up two parallel lines of plank, six feet 

 apart, held in place by stakes driven into the ground. One line 

 should be of wider plank than the other to provide for slope. 

 Boards are nailed across the ends and the top is covered with sash 

 or cotton cloth. If sash is used, cross-bars may be omitted from a 

 temporary frame of this sort. 



A cloth cover is sometimes used. If so, it must be supported 

 by cross-bars at intervals of about four feet. For making a cloth 



