AMERICAN GARDENER. 69 



118. Even \vhen the plants are out of the 

 green-house, the latter is of use. An excellent 

 place for the drying of cherries , afifiles, fiears, 

 quinces, ficaches, and other fruits ; and also for 

 the drying of yeast-cakes, one of the most useful 

 articles that sensible and provident house-wives 

 ever invented. 



119. All this work of drying can, indeed, be 

 performed by the help of the fine hot sun, in the 

 often air; but then, wet days come ; and, some- 

 times they being compelled to take the things into 

 the house, to place them in a confined space, and 

 in the shade, at best, and away from strong light, 

 greatly injures, and, sometimes, spoils, them ; 

 and, at any rate, they must always be taken in 

 at night and put out again in the day time. All 

 these are impediments; and all these impediments 

 would be, at once, removed by having a green- 

 house. Once the articles were placed properly 

 in that, the process of drying would be completed 

 without more trouble, and in about half the time 

 required to obtain even an imperfect operation in 

 the open air. 



120. For these purposes, too, only on a smaller 

 scale, a hot-bed frame, when done with for rais- 

 ing plants for the year, would be useful. The 

 frame and lights might be placed upon boards, 

 and the fruits, or cakes, put upon these boards. 

 Being shut in, neither rains nor dews could affect 

 them. They would be dried quicker, more effec 

 tually, and with a tenth part of the trouble that 

 attends the drying in the open air. 



121. Thus, then, I think, that there is use, 

 even in the vulgar sense of the word, as well as 

 ornament, in a geeen-house. But, I must con- 



