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Show Hot Bed Gutsier oasemeat .Window Easily Managed For the Victory gardener who has a basement window with southern exposure, it is possible to build a practical hot-bed which is more easily watched, aired and watered, tliau'the standard type. In front of the window make a shallow excavation, about a foot deep. The size must be figured carefully, so that a frame set in this excavation can be covered by window or hot-bed sash. As in the case of other hot-beds, a glass substitute sub-stitute may be used on the sash, if desired. Build a frame to fit in the excavation. exca-vation. The sides must slant sharply sharp-ly from a point above the window, almost to the ground. Fit the sash top so the sash may easily be raised for ventilation. Earth may be banked around the frame to keep out the cold; and the sides should be as tight as possible to keep out the wind. The frame may have to be caulked where it joins the foundation founda-tion tj prevent drafts, otherwise it is built like the garden type, using a standard or odd size sash as you choose. Heat is suiplied to this bed by opening the basement window, and allowing the heated br.semer.t air to enter the bod. The window is left open at night, and may often be closed curing the day, when the sun is shining 0:1 ti'.e bed. Hotbeds of this type have been tried ar.ci tested, and aliiut;i they do r.c: r'.c.::-.-.;1,'!! temperatures as high as other kinds the heat will be more even, and ti'.e ventilation much better. Hotbed Built Into Basement Casement. What to sow in a hot-bed? The tender vegetables that need a long j season, such as tomatoes, peppers and eggplants, the hardier cabbage and cauliflower, a few cucumbers or summer squash in pots sunk into the earth, so they may be transplanted readily, all may be , started here. Most of the annual flowers will benefit from an early start here if you do not plan to put them in the cold frame, otherwise use the hot-! hot-! bed only for the tender or slow j or.es. j The main things to . watch are temperature and drafts. Ventila- ti:n is necessary cn warm days, a-.-.d for very short por-eds on cooler cool-er do.ys. Sow seed thinly and water wa-ter bed moderately when planting; thin out when needed. 1 |
