82 HOTBEDS, COLDFRAMES, AND FLOWER PITS 



be lapped about one-fourth inch so that the water will shed off as 

 with shingles on a roof. The lapping is usually preferred as heavy- 

 rains will not leak into the bed so badly. 



Improvised sash may be used on hotbeds, that is, windows from 

 any old building may be placed end to end, fastened together by 

 two strips along their edges inlaid or screwed so as to hold the two 

 halves. The entire window is thus used as one sash on the hotbed. 

 In case such glass is to be adapted for this use, it may be necessary 

 to make the frames so as to fit the glass instead of making them of 

 standard size. 



Placing the Hotbed Frame. — It is best to dig a pit a little larger 

 than the hotbed frame. This may be one to two feet or more in 

 depth. Put about one foot of fresh horse manure in the bottom of 

 the pit and tramp it thoroughly. Six or eight inches of good garden 

 soil should be placed on the manure. A part of this may be put 

 in place before the frame is lifted on the manure but some of the 

 soil should extend up into the frame after it is placed. Compare 

 these features in figures' 56 and 57. Soil or manure should be banked 

 up well around the outside of the frame to exclude all possible 

 drafts of cold air. The glass may now be put on and after a few 

 days the first extreme heating of the manure will be over. Then 

 the soil is smoothed and watered if necessary, ready for planting 

 the seeds (Fig. 58). 



How the Hotbed is Heated. — There are two ways in which the 

 hotbed receives heat. (1) The chemical change due to the rotting 

 of manure gives off a great deal of heat. This being under the 

 plants forces growth somewhat rapidly. If this heat is lacking the 

 bed is called a coldframe. (2) The sun heat is trapped by the glass 

 and held in the bed. This is made clear by the statement that sun- 

 light goes through clear glass without heating it, but when it 

 strikes the soil or other objects inside, the light is changed into heat 

 which cannot get out through the glass readily. 



Using Flats in Hotbeds. — Boxes about twelve by eighteen 

 inches or larger, and four inches in depth, will be of use in growing 

 seeds in the hotbeds. Fill the flats with three inches of soil and 

 after planting the seeds in them place them on the soil in the hot- 

 bed. When transplanting time comes these are easily lifted out 

 and taken to where the transplanting work is done. I a cold weather 

 the transplanting should be inside to prevent chilling the plants. 



Ventilation of Hotbeds. — On warm sunny days the beds will 

 become too hot and ventilation is necessary. (Fig. 59.) A ther- 



