XVIII 



THE HOTBED AND THE COLDFRAME 



EVERY garden beginner is eager to begin at once — 

 to have things growing as soon as possible — and 

 so, because a hotbed will advance the season anywhere 

 from eight to ten weeks, he will of course wish to make 

 one, when the time comes. They are simple enough 

 to build, so there is no reason why he should not: 

 follow the directions — that is all. They are simple 

 enough to run, too — follow the directions again; and 

 no garden can be regarded as completely equipped 

 until it has one. 



A hotbed is really a forcing house on a very small 

 scale — a place where plants may be grown in advance 

 of the open season by means of heat artificially 

 supplied to them. This heat may be carried under^ 

 neath the bed by steam or hot v/ater pipes — but that is 

 the bothersome and expensive way — or it may be 

 furnished by placing the bed upon a mound of fer- 

 menting manure. This is the easiest and usual way, 

 and the only one that need concern the beginner. 



Fresh manure from the stables of grain-fed horses, 

 mixed with one-third bedding straw (this latter length- 

 ens the heating period), should first be piled in 



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