STRUCTURES ADAPTED TO PARTICULAR PURPOSES. 49 



the glass and prevent the entrance of the solar rays in that 

 direction, the plants are better able to endure the extremes of 

 either heat or cold, than if exposed or covered with straw or 

 mats. 



In using these protectors for winter covering, it is only neces- 

 sary to throw a garden mat over the case during severe frosts, 

 removing it when the weather becomes mild, or immediately on 

 the relaxation of the frost. There is not the slightest injury 

 resulting from the taking off the mats, as would be the case with 

 mat and straw coverings without the protector, as a body of air 

 is always at rest inside, which prevents the temperature from 

 falling so low as to cause injury to the tree. 



Framing-Ground. This term seems to have a very different 

 meaning in American gardens from what it has in England, for 

 we find the spot usually appropriated to the pits, frames, hot- 

 beds, &c., located in some out-of-the-way corner, with dung, 

 weeds, and rubbish lying about in all directions, or, perhaps, we 

 may observe them occupying a place in one of the squares of 

 the garden, a site equally objectionable. 



Where frames and hot-beds are extensively used, they should, 

 by all means, have a place appropriated to themselves, and 

 sheltered, if possible, on the east, north, and west; and, as we 

 can see no reason why this department of the garden should not 

 be visited by the proprietor as well as any other, it should be 

 laid out and kept in a manner to make it worthy of a visit. In 

 fact, the frame-ground should come as naturally in the course 

 of promenade as the larger fruit houses. Every one, indeed, 

 may not take the same interest in this department as in others 

 of the garden, but this can form no excuse for huddling the 

 frames and hot-beds into some recess, out of the way, and pay- 

 ing no attention to order and cleanliness about them. Who, 

 that is in the habit of frequently visiting large gardens, has 

 not heard the gardener apologizing for the filthy condition of 

 his frame-ground, when the curiosity or interest of the visitor 

 led him thither ? The only reason that can be given for this 

 state of things is, that the frame-ground is seldom intended to 

 form a prominent object in the establishment ; its object being 



