332 



GARDEN GUIDE 



1 



"Radishes, Lettuce, Beets and Carrots seem well adapted for 

 growing together, while Tomatoes, Egg Plants and Peppers, although 

 they can be raised with the others, will grow better if given a higher 

 temperature than, and conditions sHghtly different from, those required 

 by the first four plants named. Through experience the various 

 requirements of different plants will become known to the grower. 



"A good plan for planting a hotbed for the home garden is shown 

 on page 331. The, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Tomatoes and Lettuce that 

 are transplanted to this bed can be first raised in a small flat, which is a 

 wooden box twelve inches wide, eighteen inches long outside and 

 two and one-half inches deep, filled with dirt, either earlier in this 

 bed, in another ted, or in the house at a sunny window or behind the 

 stove. Other plants, such as Radishes, Beets and Carrots are sown 

 for maturing in this bed. For the best results they will require thin- 

 ning, the Beet thinnings being used as greens. The seed of Celery 

 and of Onions is sown and the seedhngs are transplanted later. 



"After the Lettuce plants have been disposed of, one row of 

 Cucumber seeds may be planted, the plants being thinned later to 

 six inches apart. Cucumbers may be planted also after the pots at 

 the back of the bed are removed. The Cucumber plants are then 

 allowed to spread at will and to mature a crop of Cucumbers for slicing 

 or for other uses as required. 



"After one crop is taken out another can follow, the soil in the 

 bed being forked over and raked level between crops, and after th^ 

 manure is spent the bed can be used for the development of vege- 

 tables throughout the Summer. In the Fall the soil and the spent 

 manure -is taken out of the hotbed pits, the sash is stored away, and 

 the board covering is replaced for Winter protection. Fresh manure 

 is used every Spring, also fresh soil, the process of making and manag- 

 ing the hotbed changing only as the operator becomes more experienced 

 in successful hotbed work." 



The same treatment should be given coldframes, except that they 

 cn not be started so early. 



Useful Little Forcing Structures 



The gardner's inventive genius will devise a hundred ways of 

 growing the earliest possible plants out of doors. He will use boxes 

 with glass lids and butter bell-jars. Finally, he will see the advantage 

 of a small individual roldframe and will have small coldframes one or 

 two feet square constructed, in which he can cultivate Cantaloupes, 

 Cucumbers, early Peppers, Squash, Lima Beans. 



