CHAPTER V. 
GLASS AND GLAZING, PAINTING, ETC. 
The abolition of the duty on glass, and the consequent 
reduction in its cost, gave an enormous impetus to indoor 
horticulture generally, and to a great extent accounts 
for the marvellously low present prices of forced fruit, 
flowers, and glass-house produce in general. While the 
duty remained in force, a greenhouse was a luxury only 
within reach of the rich, but now even the careful and 
industrious working man can indulge his hobby for 
cultivating tomatoes or choice flowers to a moderate 
extent, while the total amount of glass employed in the 
horticultural market trade throughout the country is 
really enormous. ‘ 
The foreign (Belgian) glass is even cheaper than the 
commonest description of English make, but at the same 
time it is decidedly inferior in both quality and colour, 
and where a little extra expense is no object, a fairly 
good quality of English glass should be employed. The 
foreign glass is usually distinguished by an extreme. 
hardness and brittleness, as well as by a decided bluish 
or greenish hue, which is most noticeable when viewed 
edgewise of the sheets. It is also too often full of 
‘« feathers,” ‘‘ waves,” and other imperfections, which are. 
held by some growers to ‘‘ draw” the sunlight, and. 
