Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-03-27

early spring the weather changes
very quickly, so that 1t Is often
necessary to open and close the sash
several times in one .day. At this
season the sash should always be
closed finally about mid afternoon.
Later in the season ventilat ion must
be increased. The hotbed plants re-
quire more water than those in cold
frames and more care in ventilation.
The cold frame is a valuable COM
panion to the hotbed and Is similar
in every way but that no pit or heat
ing material is necessary. The early
plants raised in the hotbed after be-
ing transplanted are usually moved
into the cold frame, where they are
gradually hardened off before being
planted in the open. Cabbage, cauli-
flower and also lettuce, onions Or
other nardy vegetables are usually
transferred Immediately to the cold
frame when they are transplanted,
1t may be necessary, however. 10
cover the sash with shutters, sack
ing or other material at nights should
the weather be very cold and until
the seedlings get accustomed to the
change in temperature. Tender veg
etables, including peppers. eggplanIs
and tomatoes, must be held in the
hotbed until the weather is fairly
| settled. Peppers and elephants should
be started quite early, but delay SOW
ing tomatoes until about six weeks
previous to the date for safe planting
outside.
Paper pots and dirt bands are a
| great aid. The first named is shaped
like an ordinary flower pot and can
| be had in various sizes. Two and
| one half and three inches diameter
are good sizes for seedlings that dc
not have to be carried too long. A
dirt band is q band of paper which
folds up into a square but has no
bottom. They are placed in shallow
boxes OF flats, filled with soil, and n
seeding plant is inserted in the GEN.
ter of each. When planting -out time
arrives the flats are taken to the
| garden and one end removed so that
! the plants are readily slipped gu!
without much disturbance TO the
roots, which will be clear through the
soil and resting on the bottom of the
! box. Have the hole ready for tho
| plants. and do not attempt to remove
the paper band, as it will quickly
, rot in the soil.
! The hotbed and the cold frame
should always face the south. and if
there be building or tight fence on
| the north side it win afford protec-
! ton. The sides and ends of tbs
! frames, especially in cold localities
should be banked up with soil or
ashes.
| Later in the spring Lima beans
cucumDers. squash, melons or even
sweet corn may be sown in the cold
! frame a few weeks ahead of the
usual open-air planting date, this
| procedure bringing them into bearing
some weeks ahead of time. Paper
pots, bands or even berry baskets
may be used for the melons, cucum-
/ bers and squash. while sods cut three
inches thick, placed grass side down
! and packed in flats, make perfect
starters for beans and corn. Press
/ two or three seeds into each three
inch square of sod, cover with a little
| fine soil and keep moist.
Plants under glass which have
been touched by frost can usually be
saved If damage is noticed before the
sun gets round to them. The frozen
plants are sprinkled thoroughly with
cold water, and the glass is shaded
so that the sun II not touch them
until they are thawed out.