108 



UTENSILS USED IN HORTICULTURE. 



score, to the large one where they require several hundreds or 

 thousands of them, They are about sixteen inches high, and the 

 same in diameter at the base, and cost in France about a franc apiece, 

 or a penny or two less if bought in quantity. 



" The advantages of the cloches are they never require any repairs ; 

 they are easy of carriage when carefully packed ; with ordinary care 

 they are seldom broken ; they are easily cleaned a swill in a water- 

 Fig. 77. Fig. 78. 



The cloche as used in winter- 

 lettuce culture. 



The cloche as used in the raising 

 of seedling plants. 



tank and a wipe with a brush every autumn clear and prepare them 

 for their winter work. They are useful for many purposes besides 

 salad-growing; for example, in advancing various crops in spring, 

 raising seedlings, and striking cuttings ; and finally, they are very 

 cheap when bought in quantity. But of course it is only in market- 

 gardens that they will be required in numbers ; in some small 

 gardens not more than a few dozen will be wanted. Every garden 

 should be furnished with them according to its size ; and when we get 

 used to them and learn how very useful they are for many things, 

 from the full developing of a Christmas Rose to the forwarding of early 

 crops in spring, I have no doubt they will be much in demand. It is 

 not only in winter that they are useful, but at all seasons, both in 

 indoor and outdoor propagation and seed-sowing. In France seedlings 

 of garden-crops likely to be destroyed by birds or insects are frequently 

 raised under the cloche, and the same prac- 

 Fig. 79. t ^ ce w 'n occasionally be found advantageous 



in this country. 



" Usually the cloche is made without a knob, 

 as that appendage renders their package a 

 much greater difficulty and increases the cost, 

 so that practical men use only the one without 

 the knob, like the specimens first figured. 

 One with a knob may, however, be had, but 

 it is not to be recommended. 

 " In the Parisian propagating-houses may be seen small bell-glasses 

 with openings at the top. It would be a great improvement if some 

 cloches were made in like manner, and this particularly for propaga- 

 tion in tan-beds and hot-pits. The opening would afford very slight 



Cloche with knob. 



