can make your own coldframe or hot-bed; 
the sash can serve as the top and you can 
build a frame for it. A frame 6 x 6 feet, 
requiring two 3 x 6 sashes, is practical for 
small gardens. Place the frame in a shel- 
tered spot with a southern exposure where 
it will get full sun. The sash needs a pitch 
of at least 4 inches in a southerly direction. 
The building details are simple. The sides 
and ends, if made of wood, should be an 
inch thick, and sunk into the ground to a 
depth of 6 inches. The north side of most 
frames is usually 12 to 15 inches high, with 
the south side approximately 4 inches 
shorter. For most permanent construction 
use heavier lumber or concrete. Before 
sowing seed in a coldframe, provide for 
a mixture of 4 to 6 inches of well-prepared 
soil composed of one-third leaf mold, one- 
third garden soil and one-third sand. 
To prepare a hot-bed, dig out about 2 
A side view 
of a coldframe 
showing soil If “ 
ee 
Richmond, Virginia 
feet of soil and fill the trench with 114 
feet of fresh stable manure. It is best to 
order the manure at least a week before 
you plan to use it. After it has been piled 
it should be thoroughly soaked, to cause it 
to steam. Three or four days later it can 
be repiled, and in another few days it is 
ready for use. Tamp the manure firmly 
before covering it with 4 to 6 inches of 
well-prepared soil. Use the formula sug- 
gested above for preparing soil for a cold- 
frame. The sash can be put on and the 
frame allowed to stand for several days 
until the soil temperature has dropped to 
about 75 or 80 degrees. In extremely cold 
climates, manure can be piled around the 
sides in order to retain the inside heat. In 
recent years electrically heated hot-beds 
have been offered by seedsmen, and they 
are worthwhile for those gardeners who 
care to make the investment. 
_A home-made 
coldframe is 
easily built 
with an 
old window 
sash 
6° 
61 
