Hotbeds and Cold Frames 
5 
above is set. This frame is easily handled by two men and may be 
moved about as desired. 
If it is desired, a double-walled partition of i in. boards may be 
built in the middle of the frame, leaving a 4 in. space between the 
boards to be filled with soil. Inside of the boards used for the wall a 
lining of heavy building paper should bo put making the wall consist 
of two i-inch boards, two thicknesses of building paper and 4 in. of 
soil. This makes a tight wall and enables the two parts of the pit to be 
started at different times. When one side of the pit has been filled, 
the partition should be banked well with manure on the opposite side. 
After the frame has been completed, the spaces round it should be 
filled with soil firmly tamped. 
'I'lie manure is put in and the bed handled as described later. 
This makes a very serviceable pit which will last several years. 
Surface Beds 
A surface bed is made by putting the manure, when properly 
heated in a flat pile about 3 ft. high and 3 or 4 ft. longer fcind wider 
than the pile is to be. The frame used is the same kind as that describ¬ 
ed above under temporary pit beds. It is placed on the manure heap 
and banked up well around the sides. The advantages of this bed are 
its ease of construction and the economy of space by its use. Since the 
manure is put on top of the ground, the beds may be cleared away af¬ 
ter they have served their purpose and the ground used for later crops. 
Where land is scarce or expensive, this saving of space is an import¬ 
ant factor, and for this reason, surface beds( are the more desirable. 
Especially is this true in commercial gardening. Surface beds have 
the drawback, however, of losing their heating power sooner than pit 
hotbeds. 
Sashes 
Hotbeds and coldframes are generally covered with glass sashes 
3 ft. wide and 6 ft. long. These sashes have three rows of glass 10 in. 
wide. They will cost $2.50 to $3.00 complete, and local dealers will 
usually order them if they do not have ithem in stock. 
Double-glazed sashes cost about one-half again as much as the 
single glazed sashes. They are very convenient for* use and no mats 
need be used with them. They contain two rows of glass with a dead 
air space between. However, they are considerably heavier than the 
single-glazed sash, and there is a good question whether the advan¬ 
tages justify the additional original cost. 
Mats 
In very cold weather an additional protection will be needed for 
the plants. This is best furnished by mats made of grass, straw, rattan 
