Transactions of the Londori Horticultural Society, 347 



It is 12 ft. long, and Mr. Dick prefers this length to a 

 greater, as it is easily lifted about without the joints being 

 broken by twisting ; the breadth about 1 1- ft. ; and the height 

 to the top of the side wall about 8 in., and to the ridge of the 

 roof about IJft. The wood (boarding, we presume) ought 

 not to be less than five eighths or three fourths of an inch 

 thick. The shutters are three, hinged within 3 in. of the 

 ridge of the roof, and fall on four rafters of about 8 in. 

 wide: the hinges may be of metal, of leather, or even of 

 linen. A hole, 6 in. square, is cut in each of the end rafters, 

 and one in one of the remaining rafters, apparently towards 

 their top part, and these holes have square boxes adapted to 

 them; the end ones are for occasional ventilation, and that 

 towards the middle is for facilitating the examination of a 

 thermometer that is fixed inside the frame. For this ther- 

 mometer a scale engraved on brass is recommended ; " for, in 

 such situations," scales on wood " soon become obliterated." 



" When to be used, the frame is placed over a row of sea- 

 kale, &c., and sunk almost 2 in, in the soil, so as to keep out 

 mice and snails. It is then covered all over with about 6 in. of 

 warm dung, or rather more, at the sides of the frame. The 

 plants will soon be stimulated into growth by the gentle 

 warmth thus communicated ; they can be watched by means 

 of the shutters ; the temperature of the frame can be ascer- 

 tained by inserting the thermometer in the middle box; ven- 

 tilation can be effected by the end boxes ; warmth can be 

 renewed or increased, if necessary, by exchanging a little of 

 the dung, when cooling, for some fresh. When the forcing 

 begins, the thermometer should be kept about 60°; after it 

 may gradually advance to 65° or 70°, regulating it according 

 to the objects in view. 



" This kind of frame, if judiciously managed, will be found 

 much superior to the earthenware covers that are commonly 

 used, and also more economical ; for neither is it subject to 

 the expense of breakage, nor does it consume more than one 

 half the quantity of dung. Further, it keeps the border in 

 which the plants are growing dry, and prevents its being 

 chilled by being soaked with rain ; all of which are important 

 advantages that do not attend the use of earthen covers." 



Mr. Dick's frame for the forcing of asparagus principally 

 differs in being wider and deeper, namely " about a yard wide, 

 and about If ft. deep to the ridge of the roof, and the side 

 walls about three fourths of a foot high. The frame, when 

 used, is to be placed over the asparagus bed, its edge being sunk 

 three or four inches below the surface of the soil, which is to 

 slope gradually outwards, so that the dung lining may be applied 



