126 GARDENING FOR PLEASURE. 



they can be had, but if not, those from any deciduous 

 tree, and stick them a few inches apart all over the bed. 

 This will give the seedlings very much such a protection 

 as they would naturally have had in the shade of other 

 plants, and though evergreens will look better for a while, 

 the dead leaves of deciduous twigs will give quite as use- 

 ful a shade. It is always safer to sow seeds in a frame, 

 as the young plants are then under more complete con- 

 trol. Frames are easily shaded by means of a lattice 

 made of common laths. Strips of inch stuff an inch and 

 a half or two inches wide, are used for the sides of the 

 lattice, and laths are nailed across as far apart as their 

 own width. One lath being nailed on, another is laid 

 down to mark the distance, the third one put down and 

 nailed, and the second lath is moved along to mark the 

 distance for the fourth, and so on. With a screen of this 

 kind there is abundant light, but the sun does not shine 

 long at a time on one spot, and the plants have a con- 

 stantly changing sun and shade. This lath screen may 

 be used for shading plants in the open ground if sup- 

 ported at a proper hight above them. In a propagating 

 house, where it is necessary, as it often is, to shade cut- 

 tings, a lattice laid upon the outside of the glass answers 

 a good purpose. The laths are sometimes tied together 

 with strong twine, the cord answering the place of slats, 

 and serving as a warp with which the laths are woven ; 

 the advantage of a screen of this kind is that it can bo 

 rolled up. Plants kept in windows during the summer 

 months will, if in a sunny exposure, require some kind 

 of a shade, and if the one provided to keep the sun from 

 the room shuts out too much light, or excludes air as 

 well as sun, something must be provided which will give 

 protection during the heat of the day, and still allow 

 sufficient light and an abundant circulation of air. Any 

 one with ingenuity can arrange a screen of white cotton 

 cloth to answer the purpose. 



