158 THE MINIATURE ERUIT GARDEN 



county. We have heard of forty acres of cucumbers 

 being grown for pickling, and one day we may hear 

 of forty acres of grapes in ground vineries in some 

 favourable locality. To form a vinery (p. 152, fig. 22), 

 described above as No. 1, two seven-feet lengths are 

 required ; these I find from experience are better made 

 of wood than iron, which is heavy and expensive ; they 

 are now made three feet wide at base. Their size may 

 also be increased to 3 feet 6 inches, as described under 

 No. 2, but they must then be placed on a wall two 

 bricks in height, leaving apertures, four or five inches 

 wide and six inches deep, for ventilation ; this increase 

 of ventilation is absolutely necessary with No. 2. The 

 glass used should be 21-oz., as 16-oz. is too slight. As 

 the vines in ground vineries often put forth their young 

 shoots early in May, and are apt to be injured by a 

 severe May frost, it is good practice to keep some refuse 

 hay strewed over the glass when there is any chance 

 of frost ia that month, or to cover the ridges with 

 mats. 



In gardens where these glass ridge roofs are not 

 wanted for vines, or fruit-tree culture, they will be 

 found most useful. They may be placed on any warm 

 border on bricks ; and early peas, French beans, and 

 many other early vegetables requiring protection from 

 spring frosts, be grown under them with advantage. 

 For the cultivation of the early strawberries they are 

 invaluable, as they not only hasten the ripening period, 

 but protect the fruit from heavy summer showers, often 



