112 GARDEN PROFITS 



parallel and about eight inches apart, joining the 

 ends with pieces of J^-inch stock, four inches 

 wide. 



Starting about eighteen inches from one of the 

 ends of this frame and about an inch from the edge, 

 I drove in six-penny wire nails at intervals of seven 

 inches. Back of these rows and a little to one side, 

 I drove two other rows of wire nails, making rows 

 of cleats on both. 



Making straw hotbed-mats on a frame like tbls Is not only a 

 simple, but also an interesting and profitable occupation for winter 

 days 



Among the odds and ends of lumber about the 

 place I found a pole such as rugs are wrapped 

 around, which I placed between the outer pieces 

 of the frame. 



My first outlay of cash was for tarred marlin, 

 known to the trade as No. 4^^. A ball usually 

 contains about 300 feet. 



Having decided on the size for the mat, mark 

 off the necessary number of cleats for the width 

 of the mat, allowing for three or four inches of the 



