34 FRENCH MARKET-GARDENING 



is often made of iron, as it is more liable to rot from 

 the water. In the latest make the sash bars of which 

 there are three are also made of iron, and are as 

 narrow as possible, consistent with firmness, so that 

 the maximum amount of light is given to the plants 

 when necessary. 



The lights are painted and glazed in the usual 

 way, except that top-putty is used on iron sash bars ; 

 and the smallest pane of glass is kept at the bottom, 

 because it runs greater risk of being broken than the 

 others ; consequently it is not so difficult or costly to 

 replace. 



It may be mentioned that the frames and lights 

 in French gardens are narrow for scientific as well 

 as useful reasons. In winter, when it would be danger- 

 ous to water the early crops with cold water, the 

 necessary moisture is obtained from the wet manure 

 in the narrow pathways by capillarity. If the frames 

 were too wide, water would not be attracted so far 

 as the centre of the bed, hence the plants there would 

 suffer from drought. 



CLOCHES. This name for " bell glasses " has be- 

 come almost an English word now, so it may be 

 retained without inconvenience in this work. Cloches 

 have been in constant use in French gardens since 

 about the year 1623 nearly three hundred years 

 although originally they are said to have come from 

 Italy. They have naturally undergone considerable 

 modification in that time. The best cloches are made 

 in Lorraine, and measure about 17 in. in diameter 

 across the mouth, and about 15 in. in height 

 (see fig. 4). Each one weighs about 5^- lb., and 

 will hold about 6 gallons of water. The cloches are 



