160 THE FORCING GARDEN. 



to see too, that it is a speculation quite worth the 

 while for any man to go into with spirit, and one which 

 will enable our home gardeners to compete successfully 

 with the foreigner, and to keep the trade at home. 



A fortnight previous to taking the Potatoes up, 

 keep them as dry as it is possible to do. This will give 

 them a nice flavour. 



The cost of the construction of such a glass house 

 is not half so much as what some may suppose. I find, 

 by a fair calculation, that this wall structure will cost 

 about 107?. 8s. But if you go to the profession to 

 get it done, they will charge not less than 197Z., and 

 from that to 210L, for the same class of glass and of 

 the same dimensions. Here, then, is a saving of 

 nearly 50 per cent, at the least, and the cost of the 

 house is more than covered by the produce the first 

 season at least I calculate so by means of the Po- 

 tatoes and Cucumbers. Nor do I think anyone will 

 be disappointed, if the thing is well done. 



The above estimate includes four hundred feet of 

 three-inch hot- water pipe ; one flow and one return 

 pipe, close to the front ; and a good boiler, with the 

 fixing ; two thousand four hundred feet of twenty-one- 

 ounce glass ; carriage two hundred miles, and glazing 

 with clips ; one hundred and fifty-five rafters, three 

 inches by two, twelve feet long ; two hundred feet eaves 

 plate ; two hundred feet wall plate, four and a half inches 

 by one and a half ; two hundred feet run of nine-inch 

 board for top ventilator ; hinges and gearing ; two 

 hundred feet super of one-inch boarding for front ; 

 forty posts, three inches by four and a half, two feet six 

 inches long ; two close-boarded ends ; two doors, hinges, 

 &c. ; and fixing and painting three coats. 



