Tumbledown Farm .9 Acres (give or take an acre or two)

CHAPTER VIII
Mats, Tools, and Materials

MATS are used in winter and spring for covering the frames and cloches to protect the plants from frost, and to retain the heat in the beds. Later in the season they are used to protect the plants from strong sunshine. They are best made of rye straw (see Chapter XXIII). The most useful size is 5 ft. 4in. by 6ft., with five seams. Before they are used they should be dipped in a solution of sulphate of copper (7lb. to 25 gallons of water), and this dipping should be repeated each season, both to preserve them--for it makes them tougher--and to destroy such spores of fungi as may be present. After dipping, hang them up to dry in the open if the weather is fine, or if the weather is wet on wire lines stretched under the roof of the packing-shed.

Good rye mats of the kind described can be imported from France at a cost of about 1s. 7d. each, delivered.

When mats are used for covering frames, they should be placed with the length of the mat running the length of the frame, and should overlap each other for two or three

32 French Gardening

inches, so that the edge of the upper one shows on the side opposite to the wind. Thus the wind does not blow under them. (See illus­tration.)

When used for covering cloches in frosty weather, it is better to put the long way of the mat across the three rows of cloches, so that the ends come on to the ground, and the sides of the cloches are covered as well as the top. (See illustration.)

Manure baskets are used for carrying manure and soil to the beds. Wheel-barrows are of very little use for this purpose in a French garden. A man carrying a basket on his back can work his way in and out of narrow places without doing damage. These baskets are made of strong wicker-work, with two strong leather straps to pass over the shoulders. The basket is flat on the side which comes next to the back, and has a wicker-work extension which reaches above the head. The manure is filled into the basket and piled up high against this extended part. The basket is not taken off the back for emptying, but is tipped sideways.

A basket stand is used to set the baskets on whilst being filled. The basket then stands at just the right height for a man to put his arms through the straps. (See illustration.)

Hand-barrows are used to carry lights, pro­duce, etc., about the garden. They have no legs, and so can be set down on the lights without doing damage. (See illustration.)

Mats, Tools, and Materials 33

The tools and material required for the complete equipment of the two-acre garden are as follow:

210 Frames
630 Lights
2,800 Cloches
1,000 Mats
4 Manure Baskets
4 Basket stands
2 Hand-barrows
2 Cloche-Carriers
2 Reels
2 40-feet lengths Hose-pipe with rose ends
Horse, Cart, and Waggon
4 Manure Forks
2 Bent Forks
4 Spades
2 Shovels
2 Rakes
4 Water-cans (3 gal.)
4 Dibbers (2 sizes)
2 Frame Hooks
Garden Line
Brushes
Soil Presser
Raffia, Wood-wool, and paper for packing

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