lly sells for 25c per dozen, and cucumbers from 50c down to 15c
per dozen, according to the season. From three to five hundred cabbage,
cauliflower or lettuce plants can be grown under each sash, or from 150
to 300 tomatoes, peppers or egg plants can likewise be grown under each
sash, or where lettuce is grown to maturity six dozen per sash.

The cost of the horse manure for the beds varies greatly, as some are
situated where it can be secured very reasonably, while with others the
cost would be prohibitive. The amount required also varies according to
the season they are put down. When the beds are put down early in
February, three cords of manure are necessary for each box. When they
are put down March 1st, one-half that amount is needed. Where there is
no desire to get the early market, and the beds are put down March 15th,
one cord is plenty for each box. I have never tried to figure out just
what the cost of putting down each box is, or what is the cost of
ventilating and watering; but if they are neglected and the plants get
burned or frozen, the cost is much more than if they were given proper
attention, and, besides, much time is lost in getting another start, as
they are generally left several days to see if the plants will recover,
which they seldom do.

The cost of hothouses varies so greatly for the size of the house that
it is hard to draw a comparison. A modern steel frame house containing
10,000 sq. ft. of glass can be built for about $4,000.00, or a house
one-half that size can be built for $10,000.00 and is no better than its
cheaper rival. A small house say 16x80 ft., heated with a brick furnace
and flue and hot water coil can be built for from $350.00 to $400.00,
where one does not have to hire skilled labor. A hothouse of any size is
very satisfactory, as in cold, stormy weather, when we can't even look
into a hotbed, plants can be kept growing and there is always something
we can do and be comfortable while we are doing it. It is impossible to
use a hotbed all winter, as no matter how much manure is put into it in
the fall it will cool out and be worthless long before spring.

[Illustration: Showing hotbeds and greenhouse at F. H. Gibbs' market
gardens.]

With a good hothouse four crops of lettuce can be raised during the fall
and winter, and a crop of cucumbers in the spring and early summer.

Each crop of lettuce sells for from 20c to 25c per dozen; the plants are
set six inches apart each way