48 KEEPING PLANTS IN COLD FRAMES. 
spade and pat it down and place it well around the 
sides as it makes a close covering, let them remain 
covered as long as the cold weather lasts, and when 
there comes on a thaw, take off the covering and open 
the sashes, and if the frost has got in, sprinkle them 
with a little cold water, but do not wet them too much, 
draw on the sash and tilt up the back so as to admit 
air; and cover a single mat over them to shade them 
from the sun till they have thawed. When the frost 
is out of them, slide off the sash to let the Plants have 
air to dry them, then pick off all the frosted leaves 
and clean any foulness off the pots to prevent mildew? 
and as long as the thaw lasts, give them air in the day 
and close them at night, and when the weather gets 
cold again, cover them up as before. 
By the beginning or middle of March, if the frame 
is wanted for a hot bed, such plants as are in pots can 
be removed into the house windows, and they will 
soon commence growing, and the Garden Plants can 
be placed on the ground with some earth thrown over 
them, and covered over with straw till the frost is out 
of the ground ; they can then be set out. The hole 
may be filled with hot manure, if wanted, and the frame 
raised on the top of it, and the earth around the sides 
thrown over the bed and leveled, and as soon as the 
bed is warm, it will do to sow seeds to raise plants 
to set out in the garden.: 
