68 MY GARDEN. 



It is desirable to ascertain the water-level or drainage before the 

 frame is made, and the ground should be excavated to about three 

 inches of the highest level to which water ever rises. The excavated 

 earth should be thrown outside the structure, so that the whole is 

 firmly imbedded in the ground, which preserves a uniform tempera- 

 ture in cold weather. Many desirable plants, such as azaleas, 

 can be well preserved in the coldest weather by simply covering the 

 lights with matting. 



In these frames the cauliflower and lettuce plants are kept through 

 the winter to be planted out in early spring. In winter, endive and 

 late cauliflower plants are preserved for use. In spring, strawberry 

 plants placed in them yield an abundant crop in May, after which 

 tomatoes are planted for summer use. Melons and cucumbers are 

 also produced in abundance in them in summer. Delicate plants are 

 housed in them during the winter, and protected by them in the 

 spring and autumn ; and large specimens of geraniums and fuchsias 

 attain the highest perfection of growth during the summer. 



My surface of cold frames extends to no less than 1,600 superficial 

 feet of glass ; and we have besides three or four two-light boxes 

 (fig. 81), eight feet by six, useful for hot-beds, or, when turned to 

 the north or east, valuable for the protection of seedling ferns, which 

 require to be shaded from scorching suns and blasting winds. 



During the present season I have experimented on a frame of four 

 lights with a tank underneath for hot water ; and another frame heated 

 with a single pipe, the heating apparatus of which will require minute 

 and specific description. 



Another glass structure exists at my garden, which is really 

 nothing more than a large frame, so constructed that the gardener can 

 get in and walk along. We call it the POOR MAN'S HOUSE (fig. 82), 

 because it is erected so cheaply and answers so efficiently. To con- 

 struct a Poor Man's House, a hole is sunk in the ground 2j feet wide 

 and 2\ feet deep, and the earth so removed is placed at the back 

 of the house. If the water-level of the ground permitted, and drainage 

 could be procured, the whole interior of the house might be lowered 



