Devices for Forcing, Forwarding, and Protecting. 1 35 



days, but the plants are exposed whenever the weather is mild. 

 The edges of the calico rest on the ground, and are kept in 

 place by stones, clods of earth, or pieces of timber. When the 

 weather becomes warm, the calico is washed and dried and 

 stored away for use the following season. 



Calico Screen, laid over Bent Willow Wands. 



The same idea carried out more elaborately is illustrated 

 below. In this case the shields are made complete, with calico 

 or other material attached to the framework, and are movable. 

 Or they may be merely framework, covered at night with mats 

 and uncovered in the morning. A useful size would be 2ft. 

 across the base and the same in height. If made in different 

 lengths, say a series of four from 10ft. to 12ft., by knocking 

 out all the cross-ties resting on the ground except those at the 

 ends, they could be nested and packed away in small space. 



Movable Shield, covered with Calico or Mats. 



Straw Mats. Mention has already been made of the use of 

 straw mats in covering frames and cloches, but they are also 

 used in many other ways for protective purposes. In the latter 

 part of April and during May frost is not much to be feared 

 except during the night, and the straw mat forms an efficient 

 protection to the plants they cover against any frost which is 

 likely to occur at that period. When there is an insufficiency 



