54 The Principles of Vegetable- Gardening 



stored until needed for the next year's work. Figs. 11 

 and' 12 suggest methods of making the frames so that 

 they may be taken apart. The pieces for the sash to slide 

 on are made of stuff three inches wide mortised into 



merely by stakes driven into the ground. This does 

 very well for use late in the season and for temporary 

 frames. 



The depth of the frame must be governed largely 

 by the plants which it is desired to grow, and by the 

 length of time they are to remain in the bed. Have 

 the plants as near the glass as possible and yet give 

 them room in which to grow. If the frame sets on top 

 of the manure, the back side may be 12 to 15 inches 

 high, and the front side 8 to 10 inches. 



A hotbed has artificial bottom heat. This heat is 

 ordinarily supplied by means of fermenting manure, 

 but it may be obtained from other fermenting material, 

 as tan -bark or leaves, or from heat in flues or pipes. 

 The hotbed is used for the very early starting of 

 plants, and when the plants have outgrown the bed, 



Fig. 11. A method of making a frame. 



the frame. These 

 pieces have a strip 

 or mounting nailed 

 along their middle 

 to hold the sash 

 to its place. The 

 frames are some- 

 times held together 



3. HOTBEDS 



