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 reenforced 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- 



