A dictionary of modern gardening - University Library

F R A 235 FR A
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ally, both for cucumbers and melons; middle to conduct off all wet falling
each frame to have two cross bars, between the lights. At the end of each
ranging from the top of the back to frame, at top, should be a thin slip of
that of the front, at three feet six inches board, four inches broad, up to the outdistance,
to strengthen the frame, and side of the lights, being necessary to
support the lights ; and the three lights guard against cutting winds rushing in
to be each three feet six inches wide ; at that part immediately upon the plants,
the whole together being made to fit when the lights are occasionally tilted
the top of the frame exactly, every way
in length and width.
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behind for the necessary admission of
fresh air, &c.
" With respect to the lights, the
wood-work of the frame should be inch
and a half thick and two and a half
and the bars, for the immediate
of the glass-work, should be
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» " Sometimes the above sort of frames
are made of larger dimensions than before
specified ; but in respect to this it
should be observed that if larger they broad ;
are very inconvenient to move to differ- support
ent parts where they may be occasion- about an inch broad, and not more than
ally wanted, and require more heat to inch and a half thick : for if too broad
warm the internal air; and in respect and thick, they would intercept the
to depth particularly, that if they are rays of the sun, so should be only just
but just deep enough to contain a due sufficient to support the lights and be
depth of mould, and for the plants to ranged from the back part to the front.
have moderate room to grow, they will eight or nine inches asunder.
be better than if deeper, as the plants "All the wood-work, both of the
will be then always near the glasses
which is an essential consideration in
early work—and the internal air will
frames and lights, should be painted to
preserve them from decay. A lead
colour will be the most eligible; and
be more effectually supported in a due if done three times over, outside and
temperature of warmth. For the deeper in, will preserve the wood exceedingly
the frame, the heat of the internal air from the injuries of weather, and from
will be less in proportion, and the plants the moisture of the earth and dung."
being far from the glasses will be some Mr. Knight has suggested an import-
disadvantage in their early growth. Besides,
a too deep frame, both in early
ant improvement in the form of frames.
He observes, that the general practice
and late work, is apt to draw the plants is to make the surface of the bed per-
up weak; for they always naturally fectly horizontal, and to give an incli-
aspire towards the glasses, and the nation to the glass. That side of the
more space there is, the more they frame which is to stand towards the
will run up; for which reason the Lon- north is made nearly as deep again as
don kitchen-gardeners have many of
their frames not more than fourteen or
fifteen inches high behind and seven in
front, especially those which are intended
to winter the more tender young
plants, such as cauliflower and lettuce,
and for raising early small' salad, herbs,
radishes, &c.
" The wood work of the back, ends,
and front should be of inch or inch
and a quarter deal, as before observed,
which should be all neatly planed even
and smooth on both sides; and the
joints, in framing them together, should
be so close that no wet nor air can enter.
The cross-bars or bearers at top,
for the support of the glasses, should
be about three inches broad and one
thick, and neatly dove-tailed in at back
and front even with both edges, that
the lights may shut down close, each
having a groove or channel along the
its opposite; so that if the mould is
placed of an equal depth (as it ought
to be) over the whole bed, the plants
are too far from the glass at one end of
the frame and too near at the other.
To remove this inconvenience, he
points out the mode of forming the bed
on an inclined plane; and the frame
formed with sides of equal depth, and
so put together as to continue perpendicular
when on the bed, as represented
in the accompanying sketch,
Fig. 52,
There are several minor points in the
construction of frames that deserve attention.
The strips of lead or wood
that sustain the panes of glass should
run across the frame, and not lengthwise
; they then neither obstruct so
much the entrance of light nor the passing
off of rain. The inside of the frame
should be painted white, since planU