The Home Garden 



for the cold-frame, the less strength it will 

 have. 



Give the hot-bed close attention after seed 

 is sown in it. After the plants are up, open 

 the sash just a little, in pleasant ^veather, to 

 let moisture escape which has gathered on the 

 glass. But do not keep it open for more than 

 a minute or two at a time, and never open it 

 when the wind, blows from a quarter that will 

 let it strike on the plants, unless you can shield 

 them from the draught. 



If w^ater is to be given, apply it from a pot 

 having a fine-spray nozzle, and let it be of the 

 temperature of the air inside the hot-bed. Use 

 as Httle as possible. Aim to keep the soil 

 moist, not wet. 



If the snow has gone, boxes and barrels can 

 be placed about clumps of rhubarb to encourage 

 an early gro\\i:h. Bank up about them with 

 horse-manure. Cover the barrels or boxes at 

 night. In fact, keep them covered, day and 

 night, until the plants begin to grow. 



If you cannot have a hot-bed, plants can be 

 started in boxes in the living-room. They will 

 not do as well as in the hot-bed, but, with 

 careful management, they can be forced to 



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