26 THE beginner's garden book 



come, he should protect the tender plants. What is needed 

 is a covering of some sort, to keep out the cold air and keep in 

 the heat of the soil. Hay or straw or cloth will do, either laid 

 on the plants, or held above them on stakes. There is a good 

 deal of bother to all this, especially if it amounts to nothing 

 because the frost does not come ; but often the trouble will 



Fig. 16. — The Fight against Frost. 



Such a frame of loose boards held by stakes, with the burlap cover on a 

 roller, is of great use in protecting the tomato plants against frost. 



save several days longer, sometimes for weeks, the beans, the 

 nasturtiums, or the salvia. 



If there are plants which are to be covered with frames, 

 so as to keep them into the real winter, the frames should be 

 set at the first alarm of frost. Then on every doubtful night, 

 the sash can be put on. The less the plants have to fight 

 the cold, the more vigorous they will be. 



At last comes the time when in spite of all care the tender 

 plants have been killed. They should be cleared away at 



