CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 



377 



of the country were the proper care exercised in their 

 culture. The Vermont Experiment Station (Vt. Sta. 

 Rpt. 1907, p. 358, Bui. 136) has furnished the instruc- 

 tions contained in the following synopsis (Experiment 

 Station Work, Vol. Ill, No. 9, p. 236) : 



The seed is sown in greenhouse or hotbed from late 

 February to early April ; later the plants are potted in 

 3 or 4-inch pots, and when in danger of suffering for 

 lack of root space and plant food and the weather is 

 favorable they are removed to sash-covered frames, there 

 to remain until almost fully grown. These hotbeds are 

 well constructed, well exposed to the sun, and also pro- 

 tected from cold winds. The frames are often covered 

 with two sets of sash, mats, and board shutters. With 

 such protection, if horse manure is used to generate a 

 sufficient bottom heat and the exposed portions of the 

 frames are banked therewith, the plants may be grown 

 almost as well as in a greenhouse. These frames are 

 movable sections, approximately 12 by 6, strong and 

 tight with tie rails for the sash to slide upon. 



The soil over which these sections are set is ridged 

 up in beds 12 to 16 feet wide with a i-foot center eleva- 

 tion. A trench is dug 2 feet wide, 15 to 18 inches deep, 

 and filled almost level with well-fermented manure, 

 and a portion of the surface soil thrown over it, slightly 

 more being drawn in where the plants are to be set. 

 The frames are then set in place and covered with sash, 

 which in turn are further reinforced with mats and 

 wooden shutters, or hay or straw with or without the 

 shutters. A 4 to 6 foot space is allowed between the 

 ends of each section. When the soil over the manure is 

 well warmed up, the warmest portion of some favorable 

 day is selected for planting. Great care is exercised 

 now in transferring the plants from the hotbeds to guard 

 against setbacks from sudden changes of temperature 

 or soil conditions. The coddling process does not cease 



