Bench Construction 



beds, that can be obtained in perfection upon raised benches. Solid beds 

 are also more difficult to water, and the soil is more apt to become sour and 

 soddened than is the case with the ordinary style of raised bench. 



A very good solid bed may be made by setting posts the same distance 

 apart as recommended in the case of the wooden bench ; but the posts should 

 not stand more than eighteen inches above the surface of the soil. Then nail 

 strong hemlock planks, one and one-quarter inches in thickness upon the 

 sides of the post, as shown in the drawing. Now put in about six inches of 

 rough cinders and clinkers, or broken stone, for drainage, and upon this place 

 one foot of good soil. Excellent carnations can be grown on such a bench ; 

 but, as I have formerly said, in results it has, with us, proved inferior to 

 raised benches ; consequently, it has been discarded. 



The Ventilated Tile Bench 



This is a style of bench which is being used with great success by many 

 growers. It consists in making the bottom of the bench of round, porous drain 

 tile, running from three to four inches in diameter. These tiles may 

 be supported upon timbers, or iron bearers ; or a 4-in. brick wall may be 

 built for the sides, the space between these walls being rilled with soil, thor- 

 oughly rammed down, the tile laid on top of this, and the brick wall con- 

 tinued above the tiles to the height necessary to secure the proper depth of 

 soil. 



The advantages of such a bench are: First, durability, as the bench 

 is practically indestructible, if properly constructed and used. Second, a 

 good circulation of air is secured under the soil through the tile. This allows 

 warm air to pass under the plants, and gives a steady, but modified, bottom 

 heat. Another advantage in these benches is, that the tiles retain moisture 

 to a considerable extent, and also absorb surplus moisture from the soil, so- 

 that a more even and healthful moist condition is secured throughout the 

 entire mass of soil than is possible with the ordinary style of wooden bench. 



The Sub-Irrigation Bench 



Much attention has been, and will in the future, be attracted by the 

 use of the sub-irrigation bench, which may be constructed either upon the 

 principle of the raised bench or of the solid bed. In general, raised benches 

 are more desirable than solid beds, and this seems to be particularly true 

 in the case of the sub-irrigation bench. The distinguishing feature of the 

 latter is a shallow water-tight tank, which may be constructed in various- 



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