Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-03-29
THE HOME GARDENER.
Hotbed and Gold Frame Greatest ASNs
to Earlier Crops.

to Earlier Crops.
The hotbed and the cold frame are the
gardeners greatest aids In raising earlier
crops. The hotbed enables him to plant
seed and produce seedlings long before
the seed planted out Of doors has begun
to terminate. The cold frame enables him
to get the seedlings produced in the hot.
house gradually accustomed to outdoor
conditions and to raise these into strong.
sturdy planting stock by the time the
garden Is ready for them. The cold frame
is used in hardening the plants that have
been started in the hotbed or in mild
climates for starting plants before the
seeds can be safely planted In the open.
Resetting plants from . hotbed into tho
cold frame gives them q better root sys-
tenn and makes them stockier and moro
valuable for transplantng in the open
ground.
In the extreme South, the cold frame
IL much more extensively used than the
hotbed. but each has its plaza ID. garden
economy The following suggestions for
constructing and handling hotbeds and
cold frames 20 a. to hurry crops are
made by the garden specialists Of the
United States department OF AGricui-
turc.
THE HOTBM.
Locate the hotbod In some sheltered but
not shaded spot which has q southern az
posure. The most convenient also 10 4
box-lik structure six feet wide and any
multiple of three feet long 10 that stand
ard three by six feet hotbed sash may
be used. The franc should be II inches
high in tho back and oight inches on the
front. This slope is for tho purpose Of
securing better angle for the suns rays
and should be faced toward the South.
The hotbed not only must collect any
heat It can from the sun, but also must
generate heat Of it's own from fermenta-
ton in fresh manure. Fresh horse ma
nurs. FREQ from stable litter. is best for
generating heat.
II tho hothed is to be an annual affair
make an excavation IS inches TO two feet
deep, about two feet greater In length
and width than the frame carrying the
sash. Lane the excavation with plank or
with a brick or concrete wall. A drain
to carry off surplus water II essential
After sufficient amount Of fresh horse
manure has been accumulated, I'LL the pit
and while 1t Ia being filled tramp the ma.
nuro as firmly and AZ evenly ~ possible:
when the ground level II reached place
the frame in position and bank the sides
and ends with manure. Place about three
inches Of good garden loan on top Of the
manure inside the frame and cover II with
the sash. After the heat has reached tie
maximum and has subsidized to between
80 degrees and 90 degrees F.. It will BE-
safe to plant the seeds. Select the plump
est, freshest seeds obtainable. Uso stand
ard varieties and get them from reliabls
seed houses
Keep the bed partially dark until the
seeds terminate.
After termination. however, the plants
will need all the light possible exclusive
Of the direct rays Of tho sun. to keep
them growing rapidly. This u crisis in
plant life and ventilating and watering
with great care are of prime importance
Too close planting and too much heat md
water cause the plants to become spin
ding. water tho plants on clear days,
in the morning. and ventilate Immediate
~ to dry the foliage and to prevent mil
dew.
TIE COuD FRAME.
The cold frame. 10 useful In hardening
plants started In the hotbed and 70.
starting plants in mild climates, Ia con-
structed in much the same way ~ the
hotbsd. except that no manure u used,
and the frame may DO covered either with
glass sash. or with canvas A cold frame
may be built on the surface OF the ground,
but q more permanent structure suitable
for holding plants over winter will require
a pit Is to "a inches deep. The cold frame
should DO fllled with q good potting soil.
Tho plants should have more ventilation
In the cold frame, hut should not receive
so much water. 1t 10 best TO keep the
soil rather dry.
In transplanting. remember that plants
usually thrive better II transplanted into
ground that has been freshly cultivated.
Transplanting to the open field 10 best
done in cool. cloudy weather. and in the
afternoon. This prevents the SUMS rays
from causing the plant to lose too much
moisture through evaporation. In trans
planting. the gardener will hnd = child's
express wagon an excellent trolley tray
for bedding out his seedlingR