THE AMATEUR S FLOWER GARDEN. 
61 
which, cuttings are to he taken should he put into a warm 
place, to promote a free growth of young shoots for the pur¬ 
pose. Plants that are comparatively hardy should be taken 
from the greenhouse and other warm places to cool pits and 
frames, where they may he inured to the air hy degrees. At 
last, when the weather is favourable, about the end of April, 
or a week later, a regular movement must be made for a 
general “hardening off” of the entire stock. Begin with 
calceolarias and other nearly hardy plants. Pollow with the 
hardiest of the geraniums ; and, as the season advances, pro¬ 
ceed until the ten derest plants, such as coleus and alternan- 
thera, have been turned out. But, where are they to go ? 
Common pits and frames of the roughest sort will answer 
the purpose, and even old boxes on which boards can be laid 
may be turned to account, because while the sunshine and the 
air is mild, the plants are to be fully exposed; but are, at 
first, to be covered up at night, and during great part of the 
day, if the weather is unkind. Here is a figure of a “ cradle ” 
for hardening plants, 
and as it is the best 
contrivance of the 
kind in use, it will 
be proper to explain 
its construction. The 
cradle is four feet 
■wide, and of any 
length required. The 
sides and ends are formed of deal planks, nine inches wide. 
These need not be planed, but a little neat carpentering will 
render them more durable, as well as more sightly. A bar of 
scantling forms the top, or ridge, and a similar bar is fixed on 
each side to form the slope. The bed is covered with clean 
gravel or coal-ashes, and on it the pots are placed. For cover¬ 
ing, mats or cheap canvas may be employed ; and it is a small 
task, night and morning, to cover and uncover, and give a 
little water to the plants if they require it. As a rule, how¬ 
ever, one part of the hardening process consists in keeping 
the plants rather dry, that they may the better endure the 
change of temperature consequent on their first expeTience of 
out-door life. A cheaper cradle may be extemporized by 
means of posts and nets, as shown in the figure on the next 
page. 
