VARIETAL DESCRIPTIONS OF VEGETABLES 
KEYSTONE SEEDS 
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GARDENING SUGGESTIONS - Continued 
Regular hotbed, sashes are made with the lower end partly cut away and without 
cross bars, in order that the water may run off readily. These sashes are glazed with 
panes 8 by 10 or 10 by 12 inches, laid like shingles on a roof, with the lower edge of each 
overlapping the upper edge of the next one below. Storm sashes are often used, but as 
the panes are larger, the loss is greater when one is broken. 
Select a place for the hotbed that is sheltered as much as possible from the west and 
north winds. It should be near the house and the water supply. The south side of a barn 
or other building, or a tight fence, is usually a good place. 
The hotbed should be started early in March. A pile of fresh horse manure two feet 
thick and somewhat larger than the frame to be used is spread on the surface of the 
ground. The frame is placed on the manure, with the south side or end a little lower 
than the north. Manure is then packed around the sides of the frame to protect the bed 
from cold winds. The manure will give off too much heat at first, and it will be necessary 
to wait four or five days for the temperature to go down. The soil may be put on at any 
time. It should be from 4 to 6 inches deep. Thoroughly smooth the surface before 
sowing seeds or transplanting plants. 
Often some of the seeds can be planted in the house and the small plants transferred 
to the hotbed as soon as it is ready. If this plan is followed, the hotbed need not be 
started so early. 
During the summer, the hotbed may be used for cucumbers, celery, or some other 
crop. By planting a hill of cucumbers very early in the center of each sash and allowing 
the vines to occupy all the space when the early crops are removed, cucumbers for table 
use may be produced much earlier than from vines grown in the open field. Celery 
plants may be set late in June and allowed to remain in the bed until there is danger of 
severe freezing. During the early fall the plants may be covered with boards or other 
material. It is possible to make good use of a hotbed from March to December. 
A COLD FRAME is made in about the same way as a hotbed except that no manure 
is used to furnish artificial heat. Cold frames can not be started until very cold weather 
has passed; the first of April is probably early enough. 
There are several kinds of plant protectors that may be used in the garden. Some of 
them are made of heavy building paper held in place with wire and having a small pane 
of glass in front. These are especially useful in protecting the early plants such as 
tomatoes, cucumbers, and sweet corn. 
If plants started inside are to be transplanted to the garden, it is necessary to harden 
them, or, in other words, to expose them to the open air gradually, in order to harden 
the tissues. About ten days before they are to be set out, they should be put in the open 
air during the middle of the day, or the hotbed sash may be taken off a little while each 
day. Reducing the amount of water helps to check growth and makes the tissues firmer. 
Cabbage and cauliflower plants treated in this way will be able to withstand light frosts; 
and tender plants, as tomato, pepper, and eggplant, will be improved. 
How to Transplant Successfully.—Success in transplanting depends on several con¬ 
ditions; good, healthy, stocky plants which have been well hardened must be used, and 
the soil must be in good condition. Before the plants are moved the soil around them 
should be thoroughly soaked and some of it taken up with the plant. It is also a good 
plan to cut back the tops of plants like cabbage and celery from a third to a half inch in 
order to prevent more evaporation taking place from the leaves than the roots can stand. 
In setting out plants, see that the roots are put in fine, moist soil, and well firmed, 
so the small roots may find moisture quickly. 
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