THE PRODUCTION OF PLANTS 4! 



locally, and are on sale by dealers in garden sup- 

 plies. In the colder parts of the country, in addi- 

 tion to glazed sash, either board shutters, straw 

 mats, burlap, or old carpet will be required as a 

 covering during cold nights. It is also desirable to 

 have a supply of straw or loose manure on hand 

 to throw over the bed in case of extremely cold 

 weather. 



Ventilating and Watering the Hotbed. During 

 bright days the hotbed will heat very quickly from 

 the sunshine on the glass, and it will be necessary to 

 ventilate during the early morning by slightly rais- 

 ing the sash on the opposite side from the wind. 

 Toward evening the sash should be closed in order 

 that the bed may become sufficiently warm before 

 nightfall. Hotbeds should be watered on bright 

 days and in the morning only. Watering in the 

 evening or on cloudy days will have a tendency to 

 chill the bed and increase the danger from freezing. 

 After watering, the bed should be well ventilated 

 to dry the foliage of the plants and the surface of 

 the soil, to prevent the plants being lost from 

 damping-off fungi. 



Construction, Care, and Uses of Cold-frames. 

 The use of the cold-frame is of more importance 

 to the celery grower than the hotbed. In the North 

 the cold-frame is used as a transplanting bed for 

 the early crop plants that are started in the hotbed. 

 The cold-frame is also desirable as a seed-bed for 

 the later crop plants. Toward the southern limits 

 of the northern celery growing belt the cold-frame 

 takes the place of the hotbed for early seed-bed 



