30 HIGGLE GARDEN BOOK 



the manure in the hotbed, then transplanting into 

 rich soil in another hotbed or coldframe. Although 

 this method is employed successfully by many gar- 

 deners, experience has taught that it is more con- 

 venient and satisfactory (unless a greenhouse is 

 available) to sow the seed in flats or shallow plant 

 boxes, transplanting into the same kind of boxes. 

 The weather is often very severe at the time the seed 

 should be sown in the hotbed, but if flats are used, 

 the work may be done in a warm outbuilding; 

 water them there if more convenient, and then place 

 the boxes in the hotbed. When the time for trans- 

 planting arrives, the flats of plants may be carried to 

 a warm room provided with tables or benches, and 

 the work of transplanting to other flats done with 

 ease and comfort. It is often cold, wet and dis- 

 agreeable when early plants should be transplanted 

 into the frames, and it would be quite impossible to 

 work advantageously in the open air under such un- 

 favorable conditions. When flats are used, a large 

 number may be planted, set back on the floor or 

 shelves, and, if the weather is cold, the planted flats 

 can be hurried to the frames where they may be 

 quickly covered with the sash. Also, when the plants 

 are ready for the garden or field, the flats can be 

 watered thoroughly, loaded on a wagon and hauled 

 to the field, where they can be distributed at con- 

 venient intervals. By standing flats on end and jar- 

 ring lightly, the compost will separate from the bot- 

 tom and sides of the flat, and the hand can be slipped 

 under the layer and plants removed by breaking the 

 compost which has become a network of fine roots, 

 thus taking out each plant with considerable compost 

 attached to the roots. This is a most important mat- 

 ter in transplanting early vegetable plants. When all 



