THE HANDLING OF THE PLANTS 175 
twelve inches wide are ordinarily broad enough, and they 
suffer comparatively little in breakage. For coldframes, how- 
ever, various oiled papers and waterproof cloths may be used, 
particularly for plants that are started little in advance of the 
opening of the season. When these materials are used, it is 
not necessary to have expensive sash, but rectangular frames 
are made from strips of pine seven-eighths inch thick and two 
and one-half inches wide, halved together at the corners and 
each corner reénforced by a square carriage-corner, such as is 
used by carriage-makers to secure the corners of buggy boxes. 
These corners can be bought by the pound at hardware stores. 
Management of hotbeds. 
Close attention is required in the management of hotbeds, 
to insure that they do not become too hot when the sun comes 
out suddenly, and to give plenty of fresh air. 
Ventilation is usually effected by raising the sash at the 
upper end and letting it rest upon a block. Whenever the 
temperature is above freezing point, it is generally advisable 
to take the sash off part way, as shown in the central part 
of Fig. 199, or even to strip it off entirely, as shown in 
Fig. 197. 
Care should be taken not to water the plants at nightfall, 
especially in dull and cold weather, but to give them water 
in the morning, when the sun will soon bring the temperature 
up to its normal state. Skill and judgment in watering are of 
the greatest importance in the management of hotbeds; but 
this skill comes only from thoughtful practice. The satisfac- 
tion and effectiveness of the work are greatly increased by good 
hose connections and good watering-pots (Fig. 209). 
Some protection, other than the glass, must be given to hot- 
beds. They need covering on every cold night, and sometimes 
during the entire day in very severe weather. Very good ma- 
terial for covering the sash is matting, such as is used for cov- 
