158 THE beginner's garden book 



weather, so much the better. At any rate a glimpse of the 

 weather report in the morning's paper will do something. 

 Press into service all the knowledge that you have, ask the 

 opinion of the folk whom you know to be weatherwise, and 

 make it all serve the purpose of bringing your hot-bed through 

 the difficult weeks when a heavy freeze or a snowstorm, or, 

 what is almost as bad, a sudden warm spell, make the prob- 

 lem serious. 



Your study must be to keep the air fresh but warm, with 

 not too strong drafts over the plants. A strong wind, 

 even though it may be a warm one, buffets the little plants 

 severely, besides drying out the soil. Air should be admitted, 

 then, in back-drafts, rather than in direct ones, whenever 

 the wind is really noticeable, by lifting the side of the sash 

 away from the wind. You must decide, then, how strong the 

 wind is or is likely to become before you return to the frames, 

 and at the same time how warm the day will prove. If your 

 judgment is good, a very little labor will serve to ventilate 

 the frames. 



A thermometer hung in each frame is a great help in this 

 work. Aim to keep the temperature between seventy and 

 eighty degrees by day, and above fifty-five degrees at 

 night. 



If you are so fortunate that you can visit the frames 

 whenever you desire, you will find that four times a day will 

 be enough. Go before breakfast, as soon as you are dressed 

 ■ — • the sun will probably have been before you for an hour 

 or more, and unless you have the double-glass sash, your 

 plants, if covered for freezing weather, will have lost just so 

 much of his light. Take off the mats and shutters, and open 

 up the frames a little, if the frost is now leaving the air. Go 

 again at ten o'clock, and open still wider. The wind will be 

 blowing stronger now ; therefore arrange the sash to protect 



