1-KBUUARY. 35 



the first instance, and they last but a few months ; they are trouble- 

 some to put on and remove, very far from being efficient when on ; 

 and whenever they are employed, there unavoidably occurs a large 

 quantity of broken glass ; for it is all but impossible to obviate this, 

 especially in the case of old thin crown-glass. I tried various sub- 

 stitutes for this evil, but with little satisfaction, until I happened to 

 meet with a person fond of introducing novelties. I mentioned my 

 difficulty to him ; he prepared to set about removing it, and in the 

 course of a few days shewed me a waterproof cloth, and informed 

 me that he could supply it at 9d. per square j^ard. It appeared to 

 me too slight a cloth to last long, but he assured me that he had 

 had a piece in constant use for three years. I therefore gave him an 

 order for as much as would cover a pit in which I stored bedding- 

 plants ; and finding it uninjured by a twelvemonths' wear, I was 

 anxious to procure a further stock ; but my friend was no where 

 to be found ; he had removed. I was therefore obliged to try my 

 own hand at preparing the cloth. The following is the plan which 

 I adopted ; and the material I produced answers the purpose per- 

 fectly, although not so well as that prepared by my chemical friend, 



I purchased the cloth, a strong, coarse cahco, and 5 ft. 10 in. 

 wide, for 6d. per yard. I had this made into convenient sizes, as 

 required, and bound round with a cheap tape in order to strengthen 

 it. I stretched it to a piece of wood under an open shade, and 

 tacked the under side to a 4-inch batten, when it was ready to 

 receive the composition. I was aware that my chemical friend used 

 a '* black varnish" got up by a chemist in Bristol; but this cost 

 '2s. 4d. per gallon, and I judged that it was composed principally of 

 gas-tar. I was anxious on that account to substitute the latter, and 

 so save my '2s. I therefore used one gallon of gas- tar from the gas 

 works, to which I added four pints of boiled oil, one pint of turpen- 

 tine, and one pound of kitchen-dripping: the last should be dissolved, 

 to cause it to mix with the others, it will also be found necessary, 

 or rather convenient, to apply the composition at a temperature of 

 about 90° or 100°, which is easily effected by placing the can con- 

 taining it in warm water. In applying it, I use a white-w^ash brush 

 which has been worn rather short. The cloth being properly stretched, 

 as directed above, it may be easily and speedily covered with the 

 composition, and will be fit for use when dry. I may state, however, 

 that it does not dry very soon ; and on this account I am not satis- 

 fied with my composition, which I hope to improve when I require 

 its use again. I cannot state exactly what the cost per yard was 

 when finished, but I know that I was supplied with covering for 

 less than mats for the same purpose had annually cost ; and after 

 two years' service, it is but little the worse, and will last a third. I 

 consider that it will cost about one-third the price of mats. In regard 

 to convenience and comfort, it is every thing that could be desired ; 

 and mats occasion a continual litter, which this will be found to 

 entirely obviate. 



Florists and amateurs do not require to be informed that a light, 

 pliable, waterproof cloth, which can be procured for one- third the 



