THE W:I80ONI



   THE HORTICULMtRIST.

A.  G. E[ANPOD,  £  S  0031'ONDING  UDI OXO .

leasenable Mnts hr the Gardhs ad Orebar-

  Among the mobt impcrtant and Interesting
operations of the garden early this month, are
the preparations for growing early vegetables.
  The Hotbed is now supposed to be in success-
ful operation, or at least the box of plants
growing in the window; and, by the way, this
simple manner of starting early plants is not
to be despised, being within reach of the hum-
blest cottager, whereby in the small space of
one half a common sash, he can start sufficient
plants of a good variety of vegetables for the
early use of his family, provided he has pre-
pared a very necessary adjunct, styled the
                COLD JINAM.
  This is easily constructed by enclosing about
double the space of the hotbed, in a similar
manner, except the filling to be of good com-
posted earth, or rich garden mold, free from
foul seeds.
   This should be well pulverized, shoveled over
several times, to thoroughly air it, on a dry
day, and raked down smooth. The covering
can be similar to the hotbed, or of cotton cloth
stretched on frames, and well whitewashed to
fill up the spaces between the threads.
   Presuming the earth to be quite dry when
 about to plant, a good soaking with warm wa-
 ter will prepare it for the reception of the ten-
 der plants from the hotbed.
   The plants are to be "pricked" or dibbled
 in with the fingers or light dibble in regular
 order, at intervals, so that the plants can have
 ten days or two weeks to grow before the final
 planting out.
   The advantages of this very necessary ad.
 janct will be apparent when we consider the
 great change from the even, tropical atmosphere
 of the hotbed to the cold and changeable gar
 den plaL. The cold frame gives the plant op
 portunity to gradually harden, and produce a
 good system of roots besides the immunitj
 from spring frost gained by the few dayi
 growth therein-



3I1       AARkER.                       141

  As an almiee indefinite number of plants
Oaf be started in a small space of hotbed, the



size of the frames should correspoad with the
wants of the garden. The earlier tke season,
the greater breadth of cold frame will be re-
quired to hold the sueeesaive " pullings " from
the hotbed.
  Cold frames, La well as hot, should be water-
ed with warm rains, or waEs wager, protected
during all cold winds and frost by a covering
of mats or sacks, and be well banked around
with manure from the firsL The hotbed will
.Wreire daily ventilation as the plants increase



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in size, but especially look out for the too great
heat during the first stages of growth.
    A HOTBXD AND COLD PlrAND COUBINxD,
  Answering all the purposes of both, for me-
dium early propagation, is easily constructed
by having the bottom of the bed raised six
inches from the ground, by placing poles, the
length of the frame, a few inches apart, rest-
ing upon blocks of wood the width of the bed
long, and two feet apart. Cover with a layer
of stalks, hay or straw. Set on the frame, and
fill with the compost or garden mold, rake
down and settle, for the reception of seed or
plants.
  The sash or cloth covering can be used; the
first for the seed bed. Small bundles of straw
should be kept in readiness for banking in cold
nights, and the usual covering of mats. Dur-
ing the warm days of April and May, the air
should have free circulation under the bed, but
closed up at night. The temperature of the bed
will thus be raised to the growing pcint, a
month before the garden is it for the reception
of seeds and plants.
   Among the plants suitable for early growing
 in the hotbed are tomatoes, lettuce, pepper-
 grass, cabbage, cauliflower, and radishes. The
 first named itin specially desirable to starkunder
 glass, and no plant will better pay to grow in
 the house window than the tomato.
   The early blooming annuals for the flower
 garden can be started in the window or hotbed
 very sueceasfully, and for all these plats the
 cold frame will be found a necessity when once
 in use.



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