HOTBEDS AND COLDFRAMES 53 



Radishes, carrots, early table beets, lettuce, sj)inacli, early peas, 

 and others may be matured in the hotbeds. These beds may 

 be used to start such plants as tomatoes, cabbages, cauliflower, 

 celery, head lettuce, peppers, egg-plants, sweet potatoes (Fig. 

 30), parsley, cucumbers, muskmelons, and perhaps others which 

 are easily transplanted to the open garden later in the season. 

 The plants so started will gain enough growth 'in the hotbeds 

 to make them much earlier for use. In some cases it will 

 cause them to mature before vacation time. Others, as toma- 

 toes, celery, and melons, may thus be well established in the 

 "school or home garden before the vacation. 



Fia, 31. — Cross-section showing construction of hotbed. The glass sash on top 

 slopes toward the south to catch the rays of sun. 



There are many annual flowering and foliage plants 'that 

 ought to be planted first in the hotbeds to give them an earlier 

 start. When the weather is suitable they may be transplanted 

 to the school garden or to home gardens. A few of the favorite 

 annuals are : aster, ageratum, alyssum, castor bean, chrysan- 

 themum, cockscomb, coleus, cosmos, mignonette, nasturtium, 

 petunia, primrose, scarlet sage, and zinia. There are also a 

 few perennials, as pansies, which will blossom much better the 

 first season if started early in hotbeds. Such bulbs as eala- 

 dium, canna, dahlia, and those hardier kinds, crocus, daffodil, 

 hyacinth, narcissus and tulip, may be started ahead of season 

 in hotbeds with much advantage. They would be ready for 

 transplanting as the season advances. 



