226 



THE FARM GARDEN 



bed: the pit, the frame, and the cover. It is best to 

 run the pit east and west and to make it at least 2 feet 

 deep. Inch boards, extending about 12 inches above the 

 ground on the north side and about 6 or 8 inches on the 

 south, constitute the frame. This gives a good southern 

 slope. The width of the frame depends on the sash or 

 cover at hand. Manure which has just begun to ferment 



is placed in the pit. On 

 top of the manure there 

 should be a dressing of 

 5 or 6 inches of loam. 

 Around the outside it is 

 well to bank up more 

 manure. The ferment- 

 ing of the manure sup- 

 plies heat sufficient for 

 early growth. 



No pit or heating 

 material is used for a cold 

 frame. Plants trans- 

 planted directly from 

 the hotbed to the garden 

 are not sufficiently hard- 

 ened ; that is, not accus- 

 tomed to the cold. The 



BEAN PLANT. 



The large nodules were broken off in 

 pulling. 



cold frame, therefore, is used to harden plants started 

 either in the house or hotbed and also to start plants late 

 in the season. 



Forcing boxes enable the farmer to get plants like 

 asparagus and rhubarb several weeks earlier than these 

 vegetables could be grown without them. Considering 

 the high price of early vegetables, forcing boxes are very 

 desirable. Forcing is a simple process. In late fall, 

 ordinary boxes are placed over the plants. Around the 



