The new North-west., 1885-10-16
Cold Frames.

We have mentioned that the middle Of
September Is the time to SOW cabbage, let
tuce, cauhfower and greens for early spring
uc In tho south these may be easily win
tered over and be ready to start up the 1st
Of February by simply covering them lightly
with leaves or straw. They will do well
without that, but will be in a more forward
state IL thus covered during the coolest
weather. The south Is the early vegetable
garden for the United States. The more the
people there understand this, and act ac-
incom - immensely.
Farmers and gardeners in tho north who
want the vegetables we have named very
early must resort to the cold frame.
HOW TO MAKE COLD FRAME.
You have only to set box of boards upon
the ground. fastening the sides securely to
posts, 80 they will stand up. The back
board should be ten or twelve inches high,
the front one seven or eight inches 50 that
the sash which is laid upon the box shall
slops and shed rain. The box should be Of
the proper size TO allow the glass sash to
re upon 1t. The sash II thre, by 81 feet
A long bed OF boards can be mads. on which
the sashes can be laid sid by side. Fill the
space inside with fertile soil, digging in
three inches Of well-rotted manure You
will then have a vegetable garden in a box
under glass The sash beds must face to
the $, nth and east. Where the winters are
cold and the winds bleak, board fence six
feet high should protect the frames TO the
north and northwest
The gardener may have as many Of thes,
sasLes as he can afford. About a month
aitsr the sowing of the seeds namei say tbs
middle OF October, transplant them from
tbs open ground into tue cold frames Set
them down to the first leaf Henderson in
s-ructs Is that each sash will held 500 plants
of cabbage or caulifower, and 100 to 800
.ettuces. The plants must be thoroughly
ait ed AMI summed throughout the winter.
Every day when the thermometer runs not
lower than twenty degrees In the shade, OF
mild, sunny days, the sashes may be lifted
of altogether, taking care to replace them
.t nj rht
Ihnt Is the treatment through the winter
sspplain that ycu can't mistake. Now,
Lave number OF spare, empty cold frames,
All II respects like those described Fill the
SIT in them with straw and leaves, SO that
! will not freszs. From tne middle Of Fsb-
IuIry 10 the 1st of March transfer lettuce
p ants to the spare cold frames. fifty to each
Ssh hsys the earth art .a ea77Gs.. 77fsm.s In In which
Your lettuce is 20 grow till 1t is marketed
G.vs the plants an abundance Of air, and
let tn I'm have thorough soaking whenever
there Is warm rain. IL you let them re
main shut up In the sashes under bright
sun, without air, recoilect they will be
cooked. Do not neglect them for a 8 nels
day. They need air, sua and mo sture
to make rapid growth. In six weeks from
the time they were last transplanted your
lettuce win be ready to sell A good many
handy little dollars can bs picked up In this
way in the months OF April and May, in
suitable localities At an average Of five
cents per bead for early lettuce, with q small
number Of frames the returns would not bs-
Uncomfortable. Moreover, women and chill
dren can do this wsrk.
From the 1st of March to the middle of
April, according to locality, take I'D the
cabbage and caulifower from the cold
frames and set them out In the open grouni.
When full grown, In good market regions,
these will make return at the rate Of 81. 900
an AGRA The cabbages will be perfected
and sold OF at the latest by the middle Of
July. Early cabbage and caulifiower should
be set In rows about twenty five inches
apart, with Q distance of sixteen inches be-
tween the planta At the same time they
are set cut lettuce plants may be put In the
space between the rows, twelve inches apart.
The heads will mature early and be cut Off
before they are in the way Of the cabbage
BY this method the ground may be doubly
utilized, with ito large requirements OF |
manure and labor