COLD F II AMES A XI) HOT-BEDS. 39 



edges of the planks composing the frame, the object be- 

 ing to prevent the cold air drawing in through the joints. 



Market gardeners generally use straw mats, made from 

 rye straw, bulrushes or marsh sedge. These are best 



made by making a frame, the inside of which will be the 

 width of the sash and a foot longer than it. Bore five 

 holes in the top and bottom rails, the outside ones to be 

 three and a half inches from the sides of the frame, and the 

 rest eight inches apart. This will give five warp strings 

 and make the mat the width of the sash. These warp 

 strings, which should be of tarred string or marline, are 

 to be fastened in the holes, and then the straw or sedge 

 laid in small handfuls upon the lower strings; as each 

 handful is laid on, the upper string must be carried over it 

 and a turn taken on the lower one, and so on until the mat 

 is finished, by tying each pair of strings together at each 

 end. The accompanying cut will further explain this. By 

 making it a foot longer than the sash, six inches of the 

 mat hangs over back and front, and so saves the necessity 

 of carpet or canvas. When finished, the mat should be 

 about three inches thick. They are much warmer than 

 any other covering. 



