Chap. XXV.] IMPLEMENTS USED IX FRENCH GARDENS. 443 



Narrow Frames used for Forcing. 



unci the plants therein are more liable to clianges of temperature 

 and cold. By having the frames narrow, all the sidework rough 

 and cheap, and the frames placed in close lines, the greatest 

 amount of heat is obtained at the smallest cost. By having 

 nothing but the surface of the glass exposed, little heat is 

 lost, and when the frames are covered by the neat, warm, and 

 flexible straw mats, they are as snug as could be desired. When 

 it is only desired to pre- 

 serve half-hardy plants 

 through the winter, the 

 spaces between the rough- 

 sided frames are merely 

 filled up with leaves and 

 slightly-heating materials. A space of about two feet is left 

 between each frame, or just enough for the convenience of the 

 workmen. Generally the frames are made by the workmen of 

 the market-gardens : two stout posts being driven firmly in at 

 one cud, and an end-board nailed to them. Then at every four 

 feet or so minor posts are driven 

 down, and the rough front and back 

 boards nailed to them. Numbers of 

 them are also made on a plan by which 

 they can be readily taken to pieces 

 and stored in a small space while not 

 in use. By this means the ground 

 covered by forcing-frames in winter 

 is rapidly cleared for ordinary open-air 

 crops in summer. 



Mats for Covering Pits and 

 'kames. — In our cold and variable 

 innate, the winter-covering for many 



iramejor ,nak,,^ ^.Iru.. Mu!.. j^i^Q^ gl^sg strUCturCS iS Of thc 



greatest importance. It is a thing generally managed in a 

 very expensive and by no means satisfactory way. The French 

 mode of doing it is much cheaper, neater, and more eflcctive ; and 

 in passing through their market-gardens and forcing-grounds in 

 winter, it is one of the first things that seems worthy of imitation 

 by the English horticulturist. The covering used consists of 

 straw mats about an inch thick, the sides as neat as if cut in a 



