n.] 



THE AMERICAN GARDENER. 



51 



square glass-house in miniature. Its sides are 

 about eight inches high from the ground to the 

 eves. The roof rises from each side in a triangular 

 form, so that it comes to a point at the top, as a 

 pyramid does, the base of which is a square. At 

 this point is a stout ring, to lift the hand-glass about 

 by. The panes of glass are fixed in lead ; and the 

 rim round the bottom is made of iron or of wood. 

 Any glazier can make these hand-lights, and they 

 are by no means expensive. Here, where the tax 

 upon glass is so slight, they cannot be more ex- 

 pensive than in England ; and there they do not 

 cost much more than a dollar each. They may be 

 made of almost any size. About 18 inches square 

 at the base is a very good size. In the gardens 

 near London there are acres of ground covered 

 with such glasses. It is the custom there to plant 

 out cauliflowers in the fall, and to cover them, in 

 severe weather, during winter, with hand-glasses. 

 A hand-glass may, in April, be put over a hot-bed 

 made with a wheel-barrow full of dung. It would 

 bring on cabbage plants enough for two or three 

 gardens. It is handy to sow things under in the 

 natural ground, in the spring, especially flowers 

 that are to be transplanted ; for, on the natural 

 ground, it adds to the heat in the day, and keeps 

 off cold and slight frost in the night. Air is given, 

 by putting a brick, or bit of w^ood, under one of 

 the sides of the hand-glass. 



95. Now, look back at the Plan of the garden. 

 No. I, "is the Hot-bed Ground. It is seventy feet 

 long and thirty-six wide. It is wide enough to con- 

 tain four rows of hot-beds, with room for linings. 

 But, though a tenth part of this should not be 

 wanted, the place is a warm place, and is better for 

 tender things than a colder place. The entrance to 



