In making cold-frames we have the choice of two methods. The first, that of making the frame to set on the level of the ground, which is better when the frame is to be used to further the growth of plants transplanted from the seed-bed ; or we can excavate the earth for a depth of two feet and use our frame for keeping plants prepared for sale, or for use in wintering over any plants we may wish to keep. The frame should be of the size to accommodate the size of the sash, which is usually three feet by six, and the back side should be six inches higher than the front. This slope is necessary to catch the rays of the sun to the best advantage, and also to allow the water to run off. It is better to have the bed run east and west, that is, the front side on the south and the back side north. This will give the rays of the sun directly on the frame to the best advantage. If a cold-frame, and built on a level with the surface of the ground, from six to nine inches of soil should be placed in it, into which to transplant the young plants started in the house, or to sow seeds of late spring plants.

If the young plants are put from the seed-bed into pots and the pots placed in the cold-frame, little or no earth will need to be put in the bed.

In making a hot-bed, proceed as directed above, except that the soil should be excavated to the depth of eighteen inches, which space is afterward filled in with manure. The best material for hot-beds is horse manure. Select that which is as free from coarse straw as possible, and throw it into a heap. It should be turned over two or three times to rid it of the first intense heat. It should be spread in the bottom of the pit and firmed down by treading upon it until a compact mass some eighteen inches thick is secured. Cover this manure with five or six inches of light soil, and after the first heat has been thrown off, we' will be ready to sow the seed. Corn stalks packed closely into the bottom of the pit will answer the purpose instead of horse manure, which is simply to produce heat.

Be careful, and don't begin operations too soon. In latitudes similar to New York city early in March is soon enough to begin arranging the hot beds.

Now we are simply getting well ready for our work. Another thing to prepare for is some spot in the home garden which we can call our garden, and where we may transplant from hot-bed and cold-frame such plants as we want to use for ourselves, or those which are improved by several times transplanting. I hardly think there will be any difficulty in getting your parents to consent to your having a part of the garden, for now-a-days parents seem to have more faith in the budding abilities of their children than they did twenty, or even ten, years ago. At the proper time, which will be when the soil is nicely warmed by the sun and may be thrown up in shape so that it may be worked, we may select our portion of the home lot, choosing that which is high and dry, yet warm and rather moist. There is a vast difference between wet soil and one that is moist. A wet soil would require to be under-drained, which we do not want to do if it can possibly be avoided.

After removing all rubbish and stones from our small plantation, we must prepare to enrich it. The beginner should place his chief dependence on stable manures until he or she can purchase the better and cleaner high-grade chemical manures.

The manure should be spread over the surface of the soil to the depth of three or four inches, and then spaded in, thoroughly mixing it with the soil. It is a good plan, in order to make the soil friable, to spade the bed over the second time, working in the opposite direction from the first time.

We are now in a fair way for the beginning of our work of planting and caring for the young plants when they peep out of the soil. In our next paper we will show how to prepare the seed-bed when plants are to be started in the house, and give the seasons for sowing all the seeds, so that we will make no serious mistakes in this direction.

It is interesting to know that our elders are more willing than in the past to foster the growing ambitions of youth even in this work of gardening. Here is one evidence of a desire on the part of a wealthy banker of New York to induce young folk to become more familiar with nature.

The gentleman in question, Edward D. Adams, has an elegant summer residence near the ocean, in the little town of Oceanic, N. J. The paths, roads and terraces of his grounds are bordered with costly plants each summer, and in such quantities that they cannot well be wintered in his greenhouses. The past fall he decided that there was some way to do besides allowing them to be destroyed by frost, so he sent an invitation for the children of the public schools of Oceanic to visit his place. Each child was presented with a plant, and told the object of the giver. The gentleman's plan is this : Each child shall care for his or her plant during the winter, and in the spring there is to be a flower show, at which prizes will be presented to those showing the finest and best-kept plants. We may not attempt to estimate the ultimate good which will result from this plan. We only wish that more wealthy gentlemen would conceive and carry out similar ones. To the boys and girls of the present day we must look for much of the good or bad of the future, and the sooner our elders find out that boys and girls are good for something besides to eat, drink, sleep and be merry, the sooner will they sow the seed which will bring forth desirable fruit.

Geo. R. Knapp.

(to be continued).