THE FAMILY GARDEN 127 



to the season and the crops to be grown. In the middle 

 of winter the full two feet will be needed, while in April 

 only a little will suffice. On top of this manure, 

 which must "be trodden firmly, from four to six inches of 

 fine rich soil should be placed to within ten inches to 

 one foot of the glass. A thermometer should be placed 

 in the heating material and when it has reached about 

 100 and receded to 80 or 90, seeds of tomatoes, pep- 

 pers, egg-plants, cucumbers, corn, etc., may be sown, 

 and 'when it is down to 70 or 80, seeds of radishes, cab- 

 bage, cauliflower, beets, onions, etc. 



Hot-beds are used for forcing lettuce, radishes, etc., 

 and starting plants of cabbage, lettuce, cauliflower, 

 beets, tomatoes, and onions, to be transplanted into the 

 open ground. Many other plants besides those men- 

 tioned above may be forced in the hot-beds, such as 

 peas, beets, onions, beans, cucumbers, etc., but the 

 yield is so small and the time required for their ma- 

 turity so great that there would be no profit only an 

 expensive luxury in trying to compete with truck- 

 growers at the South, who with modern methods of 

 transportation can put a fairly good product into our 

 markets at a very low price. 



For the cold frame no excavation is needed, only the 

 leaves or other covering put on in the fall to keep the 

 ground from freezing so that the space may be quickly 

 warmed up when desired. No bottom heat is used; all 

 the heat is secured from the sun and is held in the beds 

 by glass, mats and shutters. 



Much skill must be exercised in running these frames. 

 The sash should not be opened in the morning until the 

 sun is well up, and should be closed before they cool off 

 too much in the afternoon. Mats and shutters must be 

 used to cover the frames at night and in very cold 

 weather, Thermometers should be kept in each frame 



