CHAPTER XII 



Hotbeds and Cold Frames 



All commercial gardeners consider glass indis- 

 pensable in the production of most vegetable crops. 

 The term glass is here intended to include the vari- 

 ous types of hotbeds, cold frames and greenhouses 

 in common use. While it is true that many crops, 

 as sweet corn, peas, beans, cabbage, cauliflower and 

 most of the root crops, are often grown at a profit 

 without the use of glass, it is likewise true that glass 

 is indispensable in connection with the growing of 

 lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, melons and many 

 other crops of lesser importance. Hotbeds and cold 

 frames are generally temporary structures used dur- 

 ing the early and late part of the season to prolong 

 the same and to hasten the growth of plants. They 

 are also frequently used to grow crops to full ma- 

 turity during the winter season when it is not pos- 

 sible to produce them in the open. They are in 

 almost universal use for starting young plants to be 

 eventually transplanted to field conditions. They 

 have the added advantage of employing labor in an 

 advantageous manner during the dull season. 



These structures may be made extremely profit- 

 able in connection with the home gardens, but are 

 not found in as common use here as their merit 

 deserves. By their proper use a fresh supply of 

 vegetables, such as lettuce and radishes, might be 

 secured for home use long before the ground could 

 even be prepared for planting out of doors. . Plants 

 may be started in such a way as to greatly hasten 



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