What Is A Hand Glass

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  • Author Janice Sherwood
  • Published May 19, 2009
  • Word count 449

A hand glass is, 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 expensive 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 wood, under one of the sides of the hand glass.

Now, look back at the Plant of the garden. No. I, is the Hot-bed Ground. It is seventy feet long and thirty six wide. It is wide enough to contain 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 it from the Western door of the garden is convenient for the carrying in of dung, and for carrying it out again for the use of the garden.

Here would be room for a great deal more beds, certainly, than can ever be wanted even in a gentleman's garden. But, observe, the room is no evil. Whatever is not used for hot-beds may be applied to other purposes. This is a sheltered spot; and, it will, by and by, be seen, that, even if not used for hot-beds at all; such a spot must be of great utility.

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