IIO GARDEN PROFITS 



or straw mat, some straw or leaves will do; but 

 it must be removed on fine days to give the plants 

 air and light. Ventilate the frame a little during 

 the middle of the day on bright days, especially 

 after the seeds have germinated, and never water 

 the young plants in the afternoon, but always in 

 the morning and on a rising temperature. Use 

 a sprinkling can with a fine rose; the tempera- 

 ture of the water should never be lower than 50 

 degrees. Above all, do not get methodical in your 

 watering and give the plants a bath every day, 

 whether they need it or not. Use a little judg- 

 ment and do not overwater. For the benefit of 

 the amateur I would say that when plants are small 

 and growing under artificial conditions, there are 

 a great many more killed from over-watering than 

 from not having enough moisture. 



A NEW METHOD FOR HARDENING HOTBED PLANTS 



The amateur is not unlikely to waste valuable 

 time in fear of freezing his hotbed plants by airing 

 them too much, or too early, or by transplanting 

 them too soon. After the coldest days and nights 

 are passed an excellent means of hardening off the 

 seedlings is the use of cloth sashes. These are 

 made of unbleached cotton or heavy muslin, just 

 as for screens in poultry houses. Some of their 

 chief advantages are (i) the ease with which they 

 are handled, (2) the fact that they do not need 

 to be lifted in order to ventilate the beds, (3) they 

 furnish sufficient shade from even the brightest 



