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Outdoor Problems of the Householder: Place

Place the hot bed near the house or barn, convenient to some walk which is used several times a day, and keep it under close and constant observation. When the sun shines on the glass, ventilate the hot bed by raising the sash a little on the side opposite the wind. Take care to keep the plants from a draft of cold air. Toward evening close the sash and let the bed warm up for the night. Water only on bright days and in the early morning. Watering in the evening or on cloudy days may chill the bed and expose it to frosts. After watering, ventilate to let surplus moisture escape, else the plants may be lost by damping-off fungus or mildew.

Cold Frames. These are made precisely the same as hot beds except that they rest on the bare earth and are not heated. Place a cold frame near the hot bed in northern climates and transplant to it plants that have been started in the hot bed, to harden them before transplanting to the garden. But in the South, the cold frame may take the place of the hot bed in starting early plants. Ventilate and water cold frames the same as hot beds.

Earth for Seed Beds. - To prepare earth for seeds or small plants, for filling pots, window boxes, hot beds, cold frames or for certain purposes in the open garden, mix one part by bulk of well rotted manure, two parts of good garden loam and one part of sharp fine sand. Choose for this purpose manure which has been thoroughly rotted but not exposed to leaching from the weather. Mix all together in a heap, stir well with the shovel, sift and place in boxes or in the bed prepared for the seed.

If convenient, bake the soil for an hour in a hot oven. This will kill all weed seed and spores of fungous disease.

Seeding. - Sow all garden seeds which are to be transplanted in straight rows 2 inches or more apart according to kind and convenience.

Water just often enough to keep the soil in such condition that a handful will crumble freely after being pressed in the hand.

Thin the plants as soon as they can be handled and before they begin to "draw" or grow tall and spindling.