COLD FRAMES, HOTBEDS AND PLANTING TABLE. 9 
COLD FRAMES AND HOTBEDS. 
It is frequently desirable, in fact with most growers 
usually necessary, to have some means of starting certain 
varieties of flower and vegetable seeds outside during the 
early months of the year when the temperature out of doors is 
still below freezing, and to have some means also of protect- 
ing tender seedling plants from the frosts of late spring. The 
cold frame and hotbed in such cases are so convenient, so 
essential in fact, as to be practically indispensable. The con- 
struction of the cold frame is so simple, and the expense in- 
volved so low, that one or more, modest in size'or of the stand- 
ard dimensions, should form a part of the equipment of every 
gardener, amateur or otherwise. The cold frame is converted 
into a hotbed by placing it upon a bed of some fermenting 
material giving off heat, such as barnyard manure. It is the 
purpose of a hotbed to provide bottom heat or a higher tem- 
perature to stock growing in it than that of the air outside. 
The cold frame simply wards off cold winds, Keeps off snows, 
and by absorbing and conserving the heat of the sun affords 
to its contents a higher or milder atmospheric temperature 
than that outside. It is frequently used as a protection to and 
means of wintering over young perennials or half hardy plants 
outside, and often is stored with vegetables intended for 
Winter use, 
CONSTRUCTION OF THE COLD FRAME. 
The usual width—that is, from front to back—is 6 ft., and 
the length, each unit usually not over 12 ft., is some multiple 
of 3. This is to accommodate the standard size hotbed sash. 
Any other dimensions, of course, willdo just as well. The height 
at the back may be 12 to 18 inches, and in front 8 to 14 inches. 
A two-by-four tie, flush with the top edges of the front and 
back boards and preferably carrying a one-by-two strip to 
separate each sash from the next, is nailed across at 3 foot in- 
tervals. When the strips are used, allowance should be made for 
the thickness of the strips in the length of the frame, that is, 
there should be a 3 foot clearance between each strip. Strips 
at each end will prevent the end sashes from slipping over the 
sides. The sash can be secured from any sash factory, or can 
be made by a local carpenter, and cost very little unglazed. 
The sash bars run lengthwise. Six-by-eight glass is used and 
in glazing the lights should overlap each other so as to shed 
water. The frame, when completed, should be set in some 
sheltered, well-drained and easily accessible location, 
USES. 
The uses to which the cold frame is put will depend ene - 
tirely upon the owner’s needs, but it will be found most serv- 
iceable for early sowings of vegetable and flower seeds re- 
quiring a long season to mature, for the transplanting of seeda- 
lings previously sown in®flats or pans in the house and for the 
winter protection of young perennials or of vegetables for 
winter use*from seed sown in the summer and transplanted to 
the frame in the fall. The soil in the frame should be about 6 
inches deep in front, should be light, rich, well pulverized and 
raked smooth and level. On warm days the sash should be 
lifted or slid up or down to provide fresh air and to keep a 
more or less uniform temperature, one of the essentials in the 
successful operation of a cold frame or hotbed. 
THE HOTBED. 
In preparing a manure bed for the hotbed, a space 10 inches 
or a foot larger each way than the dimensions of the frame 
should be cleared, and the pile or bed should be carefully and 
compactly built up on this space to a height of 18 inches or 2 
feet. The higher and the greater the body of consequent heat- 
ing material, the longer will be the life of the bed. Manure 
containing one-third to one-half straw is preferable. It should 
be forked over, shaken apart and distributed as evenly as pos- 
sible over the space and over the surface of the pile as it is 
built up. It is a good plan, if the manure is dry, to moisten it 
slightly, pile it up and allow it to heat for a few days before 
making the permanent bed. As the bed is being made, the 
manure should be firmly packed with the fork, and after heat- 
ing for a few days should be thoroughly and evenly tramped 
down and given a level surface for the reception of the frame 
and soil for which it is now ready. 
MANAGEMENT. 
The management of the bed in operation requires close at- 
tention and study. The temperature especially must be dill- 
gently watched, and air “‘put on” and “taken off” as occasion 
demands. Success is largely dependent upon the maintenance 
of a uniform temperature approximating or a little higher than 
that of the best outdoor growing weather. Watering and spray- 
ing are also important, and the “hardening off” process pre- 
paratory to setting plants outside requires constant attention 
and care. The beginner is jikely to meet with disappointments 
and failures at first, as complete success can come only 
through the knowledge gained by actual practice and experi- 
ence, but will feel more than repaid in the end for what 
trouble and expense he has gone to in the increase in satisfac- 
tion and pleasure which his horticultural efforts will yield him 
and in the increased profits which will inevitably come to him. 
Table showing quantity of seed requisite to produce a given number of plants and to sow an acre, also standard weights per 
Quantity per acre. 
Peifaltial (C60 WpSs)ieiete a ereidisnet- 20 to 25 Ibs. 
Artichoke, 1 oz, to 500 plants.. 6 Oz. 
Asparagus, 1 oz. to 800 plants 
Asparagus Roots........... 1000 to 7250 
Barley (bushel 48 lbs.) 
Beans, dwarf, 1 quart to 100 ft. 
OLMALILEE GS oacse etree eee 2 2 
Beans, pole, 1 quart to 150 hills % 
Beet, garden, 1 oz. to 150 feet 
CLVALINDI eae aece tan etote ere 5 i 
Beet, Mangel, 1 oz. to 150 feet 
of drill 
Broccoli, 1 oz. to 5,000 plants... 2 OZ, 
Brussels Sprouts, 1 oz. to 5,000 
plants. 
Buckwheat (bushel 50 lbs.).... ‘% bu 
Cabbage, 1 oz. to 1,500 plants.. 6 Oz. 
Carrot, 1 oz. to 100 feet of drill. 3% lbs. 
Cauliflower, 1 oz. to 1,000 
Plants . see eee e ee eee sree cess - ¥% Ib. 
Celery, 1 oz. to 4,000 plants: 
lantseeaerteys Y% Ib. 
CURIOS oC coonbo : 4 Ibs. 
Clover, Alsike 
(CHINE doe 5 Oeint.cc dob s a0-5.cn 6 sf 
Clover, Alfalfa or Lucerne (60 
IDSiP en ees Dee 20 to 25 oe 
Clover, Mammoth and Medium 
(COU SED lop eae. 50.0.0 Ono 8 to 15 “ 
Corn, field (56 lbs.)........ 6 to 8 qts. 
Corn, sweet, 1 quart to 200 
UPL S Ate teercca eis cee siebemetetaret etal. 8 to 10 sf 
Cress, % oz. to 100 ft. of drill..12 Ibs. 
Cucumber, 1 oz. to 50 hills.... 2 
Dill, 1-3 oz, to 100 feet of drill. 5 ns 
Egg Plant, 1 oz. to 2,000 plants. 4 
Endive, 1 oz. to 100 feet of drill 4% Iba: 
Flax (bu. 56 Ilbs.), broadcast 
HOT TOUS leat cter siete ete egies 1% to 2 bu. 
Garlic, bulbs, 1 lb. to 10 feet of drill. 
Grass, Blue, Kentucky (14 IDSDF 2 bu. 
Blue, English (22 IS») 1 sf 
ie Hungarian (48 lbs.). 1 rr 
sf Millet (oO Ibs ety ia an 1 . 
“Mixed Lawn, Currie’s 
C20RIDSS) Bratt Sac idan 5 < 
ots Red Top, fancy clean (32 
IDS.) Ha neh atasiere cous 12eto) bee Lbs, 
Grass, Timothy (45 lbs.)....... 15 Ibs 
“ Orchard and Wood 
Meadow (14 lbs)...... 2 bu. 
bushel. 
Quantity per acre. 
Grass, Perennial Rye (24 lbs.). 2 bu. 
Horse Radish Roots...... 10000 to 15000 
Kale, 1-3 oz. to 2,000 plants, or 
100 feet of drill. 
Kohl Rabi, 1-3 oz. to 100 feet of 
Clete Geo cwo Ono ood Ce OoeNs 4 Ibs, 
Leek, 1 oz. to 100 ft. of drill... 4 ‘ 
Lettuce, 1 oz. to 100 ft. of drill. 3 ie 
Martynia, 1 oz. to 100 ft. of drill 5 Se 
Melon, Musk, 1 oz. to 60 
hills oben yO onOS onGdo Ou 2 to 3 a4 
Melon, Water, 1 oz. to 30 
INNS 3 29 cb Boo Oe Oe GOES 4 to 5 " 
Nasturtium, 2 oz. to 100 feet of 
aril ND tRODOT OOS PONS oon 5 aS 
Oats (32 LTD'S) )Ropetee (chet celevetevonees 2 to 3 bu. 
Okra, 1 oz. to 100 feet. of drill..10 Ibs: 
Onion Seed, 1 oz. to 100 feet of 
Glen Om oiololaic dia cidoe ais D eiseeion 5 to 6 
Onion Seed for Sets...... 40 to 80 “ 
Onion Sets, 1 quart to 20 feet 
of drill (28 lbs.):............ 8 bu. 
Parsnip, 1 oz. to 200 feet of 
GRINS odotiotic6 80 choo Geen 5 to 6 Ibs. 
Parsley, 1 oz. to 150 ft of drill. 3 ‘ 
Peas, garden, 1 quart to 100 
Leet ormarillee ete oe micteepl) LOM: bu. 
Peas, field (60 lbs.)......... 2 oY 
Pepper, 1 oz. to 1,500 plants.. ‘YY 1b. 
OtatOeSm(GOMID SS) receriee cece ‘10 bu. 
Pumpkin, 1 oz. to 30 hills..3 to 4 Ibs. 
Radish, 1 oz. to 100 feet of 
Choibl Dooce obOA OO UDOOeOe 8 to 10 My 
Rape (50 lbs.). caoodenes BELONG: rs 
Uta Baa nae severe viele elereiene 2 to 4 ‘ 
UY.C (5 GMDIDS)) ivr. cis cxcicisrs © citys srsllene = 1% bu. 
Salsify, 1 oz. to 100 ft. of drill.. 8 Ibs, 
Spinach, 1 oz. to 100 ft. of drill.10 fs 
SLMIMers SAVOTVare es oeicriscborl oe Sit ee 
SUA ONS oS Gooccnocuccosamoood 8 e 
Squash, Summer, 1 oz. to 50 
HT Sep Paes stetnets eh erensvoteteioieises 5 to 6 iH 
Squash, Winter, 1 oz. to 20 
nih aeeS Fe OOM po omen 3 to 4 1 
Tomato, 1 oz, to 1,500 plants. Tisch SF 
Tobacco, 1 oz. to 5,000 plants. 
Turnip, 1 oz. to 150 ft. of drill.. 2 ss 
Vetches, Winter OU UD'Sh) ere: “30 BY 
Wheat (60 lbs.)..........1% to 2 bu, 
zs “3 1? mena Zap “A 
Dry kar ican wea 
| | 
Seed Store, Retail, and Poultry Supply 
Department, 312 Broadway. 
