THE CLOCHE. 



597 



The Cloche as used in the 

 raising of seedling plants. 



The advantages of the cloches are — ^they never require any 

 repairs ; they are easy of carriage when carefully packed ; 

 with ordinary care they are seldom broken ; they are easily 

 cleaned — a swill in a water tank and a wipe with a brush 

 every autumn clear and prepare them for their winter work. 

 They are useful for many purposes besides salad growing ; for 

 example^ in advancing various crops 

 in spring, raising seedlings, and 353. 

 striking cuttings ; and finally, they 

 are very cheap when bought in 

 quantity. But of course it is only 

 in market gardens that they will be 

 required in numbers ; in some small 

 gardens not more than a few dozen 

 will be wanted. Every garden should 

 be furnished with them according to 

 its size; and when we get used to 

 them and learn how very useful 



they are for many things, from the full developing of 

 a Christmas Rose to the forwarding of early crops in 

 spring, I have no doubt they will be much in demand. It 

 is not only in winter that they are useful, but at all seasons, 

 both in indoor and outdoor propagation and seed sowing. 

 In France seedlings of garden crops likely to be destroyed 

 by birds or insects are frequently raised under the cloche, 

 and the same practice will occasionally be found advan- 

 tageous in this country. 



Usually the cloche is made with- 

 out a knob, as that appendage renders 

 their package a much greater difficulty 

 and increases the cost, so that practical 

 men use only the one without the knob, 

 like the specimens first figured. One 

 Cloche with knob. with a knob may, however, be had, 

 but it is not to be recommended. 

 Allusion has been made at p. 146 to the use of small 

 bell-glasses with openings at the top. It would be a great 

 improvement if some cloches were made in like manner, 

 and this particularly for propagation in tan-beds and hot 



Fia. 354. 



