THE HANDLING OF THE PLANTS 



165 



planks through the field at a distance apart of six feet. The 

 plank on the north is ordinarily ten to twelve inches wide, and 

 that on the south eight to ten inches. These planks are held 

 in place by stakes, and the sashes are laid across 

 them. Seeds of radishes, beets, lettuce, and the 

 like, are then sown beneath the sash, and when 

 settled weather arrives, the sash and planks are 

 removed and the plants are growing naturally 

 in the field. Half-hardy plants, as those 

 mentioned, may be started fully two or 

 three weeks in advance of the 

 normal season by this means. 



One of the simplest types of 

 coldframes is shown in Fig. 194, 

 which is a lean-to against the 

 foundation of a house. A sill is 

 run just above the surface of the 

 ground, and the sashes, shown at 

 D, are laid on rafters which run from this sill to the sill of the 

 house, A. If this frame is on the south side of the building, 

 plants may be started even as 

 early as a month before the open- 

 ing of the season. Such lean-to 

 frames are sometimes made against 

 greenhouses or warm cellars, and 

 heat is supphed to them by the 

 opening of a door in the wall, as 

 at B. In frames that are in such 

 sunny positions as these, it is ex- 

 ceedingly important that care be 

 taken to remove the sash, or at least to give ample ventilation, 

 in all sunny days. 



A different type of lean-to structure is shown in Fig. 195. 

 This may be either a temporary or permanent building, and 



194. Coldframe against 

 a building. Plants 

 at E; sill of house at 

 A; basement open- 

 ing at B. 



195. Weather screen, or cold- 

 frame, against a building. 



