50 GARDENING- FOR PROFIT. 



PROTECTING CLOTH IN LIEU OF SASHES. 



In many sections of the country it is difficult to get 

 sashes, and with many, too, their cost is such as to make 

 them unattainable. To such the use of this new protect- 

 ing cloth will be a great boon, particularly in the South- 

 ern States, where only a slight protection is needed to 

 ward off frost for a few nights. In the winter of 1886 

 millions of Cabbage and Cauliflower plants were lost in 

 Georgia, South Carolina and Florida that might have 

 been saved by the use of this cloth for protection. In 

 our experiments with it the past winter, we found that 

 while the thermometer stood at twenty-five degrees above 

 zero, under this covering the temperature was thirty 

 degrees above zero, while under the protection of sashes 

 it was thirty-two degrees, or but two degrees more. 

 All experienced cultivators know that the difference of 

 five degrees in temperature in most cases would save 

 nearly all the plants exposed in the open air from the 

 danger of injury by frost. Could the orange trees of 

 Florida the past winter have been enveloped in protect- 

 ing cloth, I doubt if a bud would have been injured. 

 Of course, in that case, it would have been impractic- 

 able to do so ; but it is easily practicable to protect low- 

 growing plants, such as Cabbage plants or fruiting Straw- 

 berry crops. A gentleman from Florida told me last 

 winter that he has repeatedly saved his crop of Straw- 

 berries covering an acre while in bloom from early 

 frost, by the use of ordinary cotton cloth, thereby vastly 

 increasing the value of his crop. This protecting cloth, 

 while being no cheaper than ordinary grades of cotton 

 cloth, has the advantage in being so prepared that it is 

 mildew-proof, and with ordinary care will last for five 

 years. It is made in yard widths and can be shaped 

 for use according to circumstances. Probably the sim- 

 plest plan is to tack it to a light frame three by six 



