GARDEN FRAMES AND EARLY VEGETABLES


Illuttrations in this article by
courtesy of Lord & Burnham.
GARDEN FRAMES: THE FIRST
AID TO THE GROWER OF
VEGETABLES AND FLOWERS
ARDEN            frames are one of the
        many   modern    contrivances for
        making things grow; and to see
        things grow is perhaps the greatest
 pleasure of an all-the-year-round life in the
 country. Such frames in fact take the sting
 out of the winter, draw it near to spring
 and with the advent of spring their useful-
 ness increases. Even in late summer they
 have no period of idleness, for then they can
 be used to start various plants for winter
 benefits.
   The general term "garden frames" in-
 cludes cold frames, hotbeds, pony frames,
 melon frames, pit and greenhouse frames,
 all "short cuts" to quick results since plants
 started in them attain maturity from a
 month to six weeks earlier than if grown
 in the regular way.
   The so-called standard frames are those
 most generally used since they can be made
 to act either as cold frames or hotbeds.
 Usually they are built about 8 inches deep
 at the front and 16 at the back, taking
 sashes 3 by 6 feet in size. The ones made
 in the most durable way have masonry
 61o


TOMATOES CAN BE STARTED IN SUCH A FRAME AS
THIS IN FEBRUARY; AS THE SEASON ADVANCES THEY
SHOULD BE STAKED, THEIR LATERALS CUT OFF LEAV-
ING ONLY A SINGLE VINE: THUS PLANTS BEARING
EARLY FRUIT MAY BE SECURED.
sides instead of cypress and their accom-
panying construction is such as to make
them last a lifetime. With these standard
frames as with all others the best economy
lies in using cnly a high quality sash, since
cheap sash quickly loosens at the joints, ad-
mits water and encourages rotting, the first
sign that the usefulness of the sash is at
ar end.   It is also the height of folly to
build frames of other sizes than those that
can be fitted with the regulation sash. The
cost of having individual sized sash is, in
the beginning, considerable and they are
seldom  very satisfactory. The standard
frame that takes three sashes, however,
holds the possibility of giving delight to
its owner from the fime that the sash is left
open part of the day to admit an abundance
of air and sunshine until it lies deeply
buried under the white mantle of winter.
   Many kinds of vegetables besides the let-
 tuce and radishes that have been so closely
 associated with cold frames can be started
 in such boxes, the seeds being sown about
 March first. Cabbages, beans, peas, car-
 rots, cauliflowers, parsley, beets, spinach,
 lettuce, kohlrabi, do well when started in