68 CHEAP AWNING FOR BULBS. (APRIL. 



temporary awning for this purpose. The plan 

 I have adopted is cheap, and is as follows. 

 Get stakes four feet long ; stick a row of them 

 on each side of the bed, eighteen inches apart ; 

 drive them a foot into the ground, and tie rods 

 between them, to reach across the bed, to sup- 

 port the awning. This awning may be made 

 of any cheap material, such as coarse calico, 

 or old canvass, or a mat thrown over will 

 answer the same purpose ; but care must be 

 taken to remove this covering at all times, ex- 

 cept during the full sunshine, or when there 

 are driving winds or rains ; if not, you will de- 

 prive the flowers of light ; and as all vegetable 

 colours depend on light, the blossoms, without 

 it, will be pale ; and the instinct, if I may so call 

 it, of plants leading them to seek the light, its 

 absence causes them to expend their strength 

 in growing tall in search of more, and then 

 they become what is termed drawn. 



