78 VEGETABLE GARDENING. 



the purpose and thus make very cheap boxes. Of course 

 where the market demands a certain number of plants in boxes, 

 they will have to be made for the purpose. The lumber for 

 these can be obtained at any box factory and what would be 

 otherwise idle moments, may be used in putting it together at 

 trifling expense. 



Substitutes for Glass. Frames of the same size as hotbed 

 sash, are sometimes covered with prepared cloth or paper sub- 

 stitutes for glass. Such covering, however, will not allow the 

 sun's rays to penetrate it easily, nor is it nearly so effective 

 in preventing radiation of the heat as glass, but under some 

 circumstances it may be very desirable. Sash thus covered 

 may often be used to advantage in the latter part of spring by 

 alternating it on the frames, thus doubling the amount of sash 

 at small expense. Or, they may be used in the warm weather 

 of spring, when the sash needs to be removed entirely in the mid- 

 dle of the day. They are excellent for covering beds filled with 

 recently transplanted crops, since the light is less intense and 

 evaporation less under them than under glass. A convenient 

 way of forming these sashes, is to make frames without sash 

 bars, but with one or two wires stretched across them to sup- 

 port the cloth or paper covering. Unbleached heavy cotton 

 cloth may be used for this purpose, and the material for dress- 

 ing it should be made of three pints pale linseed oil, one ounce 

 acetate of lead and four ounces white resin. Grind the acetate 

 in a little oil, then add the resin and the rest of the oil. Melt 

 in an iron kettle over a gentle fire until well mixed and apply 

 warm to the cloth. When paper is used, it should be what is 

 known as manilla wrapping paper. Paste this firmly and 

 tightly on the frame with fresh flour paste. Dry in a warm 

 place. Then wipe the whole of the paper with a damp- sponge 

 to cause it to stretch evenly. Dry it again, and apply 

 boiled linseed oil to both sides of it and dry in a warm place. 

 Use linseed oil that is free from cotton seed oil. 



Shading the Glass. In the hot weather of late spring or sum- 

 mer, the sunlight is too warm for many plants in the green- 

 house and it is customary to shade them. The amount of 

 shade necessary will depend somewhat on circumstances. 

 This shade may consist of lath screens laid on the roof, but 

 more commonly it is given by sprinkling the glass, on the out- 



