USE AKD MANAGEMENT OF COLD FRAMES. 49 



the hot-beds, and are jraised with far less trouble. The 

 time of sowing is about February 1st. In sections of 

 the country where these plants cannot be set out 

 before May it is useless to raise them in hot-beds. On 

 the other hand, in the Southern States, where in the 

 months of February and March there are no frosts, by 

 adopting the same care in covering up at night, the 

 seeds of Tomatoes, Peppers and Egg-plants, and the 

 sprouts from Sweet Potatoes, can be forwarded with much 

 less trouble in the cold frames than in the hot-bed. 



I am sometimes asked the question, how much freez- 

 ing and thawing plants of Lettuce, Cabbages, etc., will 

 stand without being destroyed. I have always taken the 

 ground that the freezing and thawing, instead of being 

 injurious, is a necessity for their safety. In doing so I 

 know I run in direct opposition to a large majority of 

 my brethren, but the experience of over a quarter of a 

 century, yearly increasing in extent, assures me that I 

 am correct, and I am further confirmed in my opinion by 

 knowing that there is not a market gardener in this 

 vicinity but whose practice in the management of cold 

 frames is the same as my own ; though if the question 

 was asked some of them if thawing and freezing did not 

 injure plants, t^ie answer might be in the affirmative, so 

 universally has the dogma been acepted. 



Again : " How long can frozen plants be kept from 

 the light when covered up with snow ? " Much would 

 depend on atmospheric conditions. If -the plants were 

 hard frozen when the snow covered up the sashes, then 

 they might safely remain three or four weeks thus cov- 

 ered, without light ; but if the ground was not frozen 

 when the snow fell, then the snow must be removed 

 from the sashes in three or four days, unless the fall has 

 been so slight that light can get through to the plants. 



