The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-16
Cold Frames ana Hot Beds.

den.
Cold Frames and Hot Beds.
The value OF frames to a small garden IS
seldom estimated, says the Farmers
Voice. Very few large gardens but con
tain them, yet in a way they are Of mo
value where land for garden purposes Is
not plentiful. In the latter case the own
er, who wants to fully supply his table
with fresh things, tries 10 get all that he
possibly can out Of his limited space. BY
means of a moderate size hot bed. lettuce,
radishes and other quickly maturing plants
may be raised for winner use, Other pants
may be started in late winter for trans
planting to the open ground in spring, thus
securing the earliest crops possible, ana
opening the way for a succession of crops
TO take the place Of the early ones Of
course, this sounds more extensive than it
really Is, for all vegetables cannot re
handled alike; but sufficient that it can be
done to some extent by careful and stu
dious gardener.
Considerable judgment must be exercised
TO make thorough success-for instance the
depth of the pit must be regulated to
agree with the plants to be grown. As an
example, lettuce-especialY that grown In
early winter-is liable to draw upward 10
the light, a very undesirable thing where
good, solid heads are wanted. Therefore,
the pit should he shallow to bring ire
plants fairly near the glass. This a 50
applies to all seedlings intended for trans
planting; they must not be drawn up,
spindling and weak but encouraged 10
grow solid and stocty. Even such slender
things as peas could be started a trifle ear
lier by sowing the seed in pots plunged IN
the frame, and transplanted later. This
Il L hint nlh
tain few dishes for the table IL would be
desirable Then care must be taken in
the regulation of air and protection fiom
frost, for raised in this way plants are
delicate.
Cold frames are chiefly of use as hot bed
feeders, or for giving plants slight start
in spring They must be prepared in Au-
gust ready for early fail sowing. The
seedlings are hardened off and held until
transplanted to hot beds or to the open
ground. Such nearly hardy plants as corn
salad and lettuce may be raised in cod
frames in the fan and early winter by
protecting them slightly on frosty nights.
Frames designed for vegetables may be
brought into further utility, where the
owner is so inclined, by putting in few
easily forced flowers, such as violets, pam
sizes, bulbs, etc.
AS TO the making of the frames, 1t is an
easy matter. The chief requirements are
shelter, drainage. light and proper VEN
tilation. and. in hot beds, regulated tenn
perature. A spol sheltered on the north
and west, free to the SUM- is considered
IDEAL If there is danger of rains wash
Ing in the bed level must be raised, and
earth and coarse litter banked around il.
The back, which will be toward the north
west should be higher than the front, the
slope permitting the water to shed from
the glass The top is of glass, fit in sash
abO fn1ir y4riI long made
slide back or raise by which means the
beds are ventilated.
The bed for cold frame should be fine
ly pulverized loan. obtained from the sur
face of some land that has been standing
at least two or three years; or any good.
light soil with which may be well mixed
some well-rotted horse manure-a desra-
BILE addition in either case. The bed should
be from eighteen inches to two feet in
depth and be closely placed in the frame.
A hot bed is something similar, except
ing that the hot much be furnished. The
heat is derived from fermenting horse ma
nure, which is placed in a bed 10 the
depth of a foot or two. This manure should
not ne strictly fresh, but first heaped up
and forked over several times before il
has chance TO burn. which can also be
prevented by watering. The manure fin
ally placed it's temperature must be kept
until it is reduced 10 about Is degrees
tahrenheu. In the meantime, aDout SIX
inches of fine loan is spread on the bed.
thermometer should always be kept
handy, and the tests made by plunging it
in the bed.
When in use, a mat of some kind must
be placed over the closed sash late in the
afternoon, and removed when the sun is
well up in the following morning.
Sash are not probably made at home
but can be produced from any horticul-
tural builder or woodworking mill Shit
able mats are also brought ready made,
though excellent ones can be made of
straw, and light ones easily dried, are
preferable.