where land is very high priced, alley ways range from two to three feet in width as shown in Figure 5. These narrow paths prohibit the removal of sash unless they are carried to the ends of the frames.

USES OF HOTBEDS.

In market gardening, hotbeds are used most largely in the starting of early vegetable plants to be transplanted in the cold frame after they are three to five weeks old. Certain classes of plants, as tomatoes, cucumbers and muskmelons are started in hotbeds and then transplanted in the field when weather conditions are right, without the intervention of cold frames. Hotbeds are extensively used about many of the large cities in the forcing of vegetables for market. They may be operated during the entire winter, although the fall and spring seasons furnish best conditions for their management. It is a bothersome method compared with greenhouse culture, but with skillful management gives fair returns. A great many farmers are cultivating rented land and they do not care to spend money for greenhouses when they may be compelled to abandon their places the next year. If the land is worth $1000 or more per acre and the gardener has only a few acres he may operate hotbeds all winter and use the same ground for summer crops.

If the hotbed is used merely for starting early plants in February or March, it is easily possible to follow with radishes or lettuce which will be ready for market when prices are usually satisfactory. Or, the same space may be used as cold frames for forwarding various kinds of plants preparatory to setting in the field. Another use for the spent hotbed, is to grow cucurbits as cucumbers and muskmelons, or tomatoes, maturing these crops early in the summer after the sash have been removed and stored or stacked. Some gardeners find hotbeds very profitable in forcing rhubarb which may be done at any time after the roots are fully matured in the fall. This crop is sometimes forced on a very large scale in hotbeds.

THE USES OF COLD FRAMES.

The cold frame has two distinct uses, namely, the protection of plants during cold weather and the forcing of plants or crops. An example of the first is the protection of cabbage or cauliflower plants from about the middle of October until conditions are right for planting in the open the next spring. Pansies, violets and other ornamental plants are often protected in cold frames during the winter. The cold frame is also very serviceable in rooting bulbous plants wanted for flowering at any time during the winter or spring.

The more common use of cold frames is to care for cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, tomatoes and other plants after they have been transplanted from the kitchen window, hotbed or greenhouse. (See Fig

ure 4.) Some gardeners grow a million or more plants by this method. It is also a fairly common practice to sow seed of the vegetables just named in the cold frame, transplanting directly to the field. It is always better, however, to transplant at least once before setting in the field.

Cold frames are largely used in forcing lettuce and radishes in the spring and fall. If a few steam or hot water pipes are provided they may be used all winter although greenhouses are much better for midwinter work. Cold frames may be used in maturing cucumbers, muskmelons, watermelons and all other vegetables which command better prices when matured earlier than is possible without glass. The cold frame plat should be cultivated during the entire summer. If cross bars are used they may be removed and also the end boards, and crops grown in the frames as well as between them. Figure 5 shows how frames are handled in most of the gardens in Philadelphia county. This is a much better plan than to allow them to grow up with weeds, thus harboring field mice and other pests and making the place unattractive.

FLATS OR PLANT BOXES.

Seeds may be sown or plants set directly in the soil of the hotbed, cold frame or greenhouse, but for many purposes and for many reasons it is desirable to use flats or shallow plant boxes.

The advantages of flats are as follows: (1) Inclement weather cannot interfere with the work because sowing or transplanting may be done in a comfortable room, carrying or hauling the boxes to the hotbed or cold frame. (2) The comfort of doing the work in a warm, well lighted room is an important consideration. Because of this comfort the work will be done better and more rapidly than is possible when bending over a frame. (3) There is better control of soil moisture in flats although more attention is required. Better plants can be grown in flats than without them. (4) Flats are a great convenience in hauling plants to the field. The boxes are well watered the evening before transplanting and then the wagon is driven between the frames, flats of plants loaded, hauled to the field and distributed along the rows. This is a great advantage over lifting the plants from solid beds. (5) In shipping or selling plants locally the flats possess advantages. They may be crated or simply loaded on the wagon of the purchaser, the flats being returned if desired. If the plants are retailed at local markets flats are indispensable. It is then possible to make sales two weeks or more before the plants are actually needed, for the purchaser knows that he can easily water and care for the plants until he is ready to set them in the garden. Merchants can also buy in dozen lots, keep the boxes watered and retail as desired. In removal of plants at the time of