NOTES ON WINTER GARDENING. 85 



tionately less fuel. In the Station forcing houses, covering 

 approximately 4,500 square feet of glass and an office building, 

 about sixty tons per year are used. 



One good man with occasional help should be able to do 

 all the work in houses covering 4,000 square feet of ground 

 if the arrangements are convenient. 



I. THE HOUSES USED FOR WINTER GARDENING. 



I. Cold Frames. 

 The simplest form of glass structure in common use is the 

 ordinary cold frame. This consists of a box of greater or less 

 extent covered with a sash or sashes. The ordinary sash used 

 in gardening work is 3x6 feet. The cold frame used in com- 

 mercial operations is made by simply placing boards on edge 

 about six feet apart and laying the sash across them, the ordi- 

 nary soil of the garden being used. The boards are held in 

 place by driving stakes inside and out and by occasional cross 

 pieces. It is well that one side should be about three or four 

 inches higher than the other in order that the rays of the sun 

 light may be received a little more directly and that the water 

 in case of rain shall run off more freely. For amateur gardens 

 a little more care is usually exercised. A frame twelve to 

 fifteen feet or more in length is made, the back side being 

 twelve inches, the front side nine inches high, with pieces of 

 2x4 in the corners to hold the boxes together. Sashes are then 

 put across as before indicated. In this way the heat of the 

 sun is utilized in warming up the soil earlier in the spring, 

 and plants may be started several weeks earlier than would 

 be possible in the open ground. Aside from its use in start- 

 ing early plants the cold frame is little used in "winter garden- 

 ing." 



2. Hot Beds. 



The hot bed is similar to a cold frame with the addition of 

 some artificial means of raising the temperature of the soil. 

 The usual means employed is that of fermenting manure. In 

 preparing a hot bed, it is well to dig a pit about two feet deep 

 and if a permanent bed is desired, this may be either planked 

 up or bricked up to keep out mice. The hot bed is not prac- 



