Placing the Frames 339 



ease and convenience of manipulation; (7) cheapness and 

 durability. 



Location and exposure^ 



Ideally, the place on which frames are set should slope 

 gently to the south or southeast. The area should be well 

 protected from the cold and prevailing winds. A wind- 

 break is necessary. This may be a pronounced rise of 

 land to the north or west, a building, a wall, or a hedge. 

 If none of these shelters exists, a temporary one may be 

 made. A board fence 5 to 8 feet high is the common 

 resort ; if it slants back somewhat, it provides a good sup- 

 port for mats and sash leaned against it. A screen of 

 cornstalks, evergreen boughs, or other material may serve 

 the purpose. 



The frames should be near the buildings and easy of 

 access. They need frequent attention, particularly in 

 changeable weather. Frames far from the house, or which 

 are cut off by snowdrifts or mud, are . likely to suffer in 

 critical times. Water supply should be at hand. If 

 pipe-water cannot be had, a good well or cistern, with 

 force-pump, should be provided. Some provision should 

 also be made for warming the water in cold weather, for 

 very cold water chills and delays the plants and wastes the 

 heat of the bed. 



If land is sufficient and the garden area remains year 

 by year in approximately the same place, it is advisable 

 to have a permanent frameyard. The windbreaks, water 

 supply and other accessories can then be well provided. 



Pits may be dug for the hotbeds and the sides stoned 

 or bricked. These pits retain heat better than surface- 



