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and is used to some extent in the United Kingdom. This is a simple 

 " Lean-to" house with the roof formed of several short frames, like a 

 flight of steps, instead of having the usual slope. These frames open 

 in sections, as shown by the engraving, and the cultivator has ready 

 access to the plants. Stages are fixed below the roof either for pots 

 or boxes of soil at such a depth that the plants will just keep clear of 

 the glass. This is both a serviceable and very cheap style of house. 



An Economical and Serviceable Forcing House. 



PROTECTING THE FRUIT. 



As soon as the fruit begins to form it will be advisable to cover the 

 surface soil between the plants with a thin layer of short grass, fine 

 straw, or other suitable material to keep the berries clean, as when 

 not protected in this way they are apt to be more or less gritty. 

 This covering also acts as a mulching, checks evaporation from the 

 surface soil, and prevents it from caking hard through the action of the 

 sun and wind. It is a common practice in Europe to use a kind of 

 tile for keeping the fruit of Strawberries clean and the surface soil 

 moist, as also for hastening maturity. These tiles are made in two 

 parts, as show r n by the illustration, and when joined together are 

 about twelve inches square. They are from an inch to an inch and 

 a -half thick, and the opening for the plant is four or five inches in 

 diameter. When the ground is covered by these tiles the soil 

 will retain moisture for a long time, as evaporation necessarily goes 

 on slowly. Fruit resting upon the tiles also ripens more rapidly than 

 under ordinary conditions. On the other hand, however, in regions 

 where the sun has great power, fruit resting upon tiles is liable to 

 injury from scorching. Another objection to tiles is they afford 

 harbour for slugs, woodlice, and other insects. As a matter of course, 

 when tiles are used they should be removed as soon as the plants 

 have done fruiting so as to allow the air free access to the soiL 



