FRAMES. 83 



must be done promptly whenever the conditions 

 require change. Mats are somewhat more con- 

 venient and are used to a considerable extent in 

 various parts of the country. The cheapest, and 

 in some respects the best form of mat is made of 

 ordinary burlap quilted so as to hold between 

 each piece about two inches of straw. The mats 

 are ordinarily made of what is known as twelve 

 ounce burlaps, forty-five inches wide, which costs 

 about six cents a yard. The straw between the 

 tackings of the mat is about two inches thick, but 

 where the tackings are made it is only about half 

 an inch thick, as the string is pulled tight and 

 tied in a square knot to prevent all danger of its 

 getting loose. These mats complete cost about 

 thirty-five cents each, and with ordinary wear and 

 tear will last two seasons. Mats similar to these 

 are now offered by many seed dealers at very 

 reasonable prices, so that it hardly pays to make 

 them at home. Straw mats are also used to a 

 considerable extent, but they are more expensive 

 than the others, and with the handling they must 

 necessarily get will not last very much longer. 



Mats are in all cases preferable to boards. 

 They keep the plants warmer and are not so 

 unhandy to move about. The boards soon warp, 

 and for this reason will not lie close to the glass. 

 They are furthermore constantly in the way when 

 laid between the frames, and as a rule cannot be 

 handled readily by one person. Where frames 



