THE MANAGEMENT OF FRAMES 159 



the plants from it. Go again soon after three, and close the 

 sash somewhat. And visit the frames at sunset, closing the 

 frames for the night, putting on the mats and shutters if 

 necessary. 



If you cannot, make these four visits at just these intervals, 

 make your second visit just before school, and your third 

 just as soon as you return. And if you are so busy that you 

 can go but twice, go an hour after sunrise and at sunset. 

 When you go but twice, you are taking something of a risk. 

 For when before breakfast you have to decide what the 

 weather is to, be, you will sometimes find the question puz- 

 zling ; and you may be doubtful, when you leave the frames, 

 whether they ought not to be a little wider open, or a little 

 more nearly shut. I have often worried, when the day turned 

 unexpectedly warm or cold, as to how the change was affecting 

 a frameful of plants which I had been carefully tending for 

 weeks/ The hot sun might scorch them through the glass, 

 or the cold wind might chill them. In such cases the plants 

 must shift for themselves, until the gardener returns eagerly 

 to the rescue. 



It will be something of a help if you have your hardy and 

 tender plants in different frames, or under different sash in 

 the same frame, separated by a partition set under a rafter. 

 You can then treat the two kinds of plants differently, giving 

 the hardy plants more fresh air. 



And now, how to give this air ? Frames can be opened in 

 different ways, chiefly by sliding the sash up or down, by lift- 

 ing the sash at the back or front, and by lifting at the side. 

 If lifted, they are kept in position by some sort of prop, best a 

 triangular piece of wood, or a piece made in steps, so that the 

 sash may be left at any height one chooses. If lifted, raise 

 the side away from the wind, so that it does not blow directly 

 on the plants. Open but a little at first ; but as the plants 



