I have increased my area of plant houses, and as economy was my very first consideration, I searched and read diligently every thing bearing upon that point. It is too soon to speak decidedly, but so far what I have done has worked admirably. I wished to secure a house, strong, air and water tight, no effort being made at show or ornamentation, and feel I have, at a slight cost, secured a house where my plants will be entirely secure without artificial heat of any kind. My new house is 15x35 feet, excavated full four feet of earth; above ground, sides 3 feet; glass entire, span roof, each side 7 1/2 feet long. Not feeling able to purchase hot-house sash, I obtained on reasonable terms, many window sash, which from being nailed in position cracked the old hardened putty . so that it leaked very badly. Hut I had a remedy at hand, (found in a recent number of Am Florist,) which now works well. I used one-third each of putty, boiled linseed oil and white lead. Oil and putty mixed first, adding lead to thin, then strain. I had no Scollay-sprinkler, and substituted a pint kerosene oil can. Think an oil can with spring bottom would have been better. With this it was rapid work to pass over every particle of the old putty, pouring in liberally where badly broken.

This was done in fair weather, which lasted until this mixture had hardened; followed on the fourth by a regular equinoctial gale, hard beating rain, a furious tempest, when to my gratification the sash only leaked in four places. This was gone over again, and now it is water tight.

As an added means of warmth and protection, I have had a coarse white homespun awning added. It took 115 yards, 3/4 yard wide, to make - in four sections, each with pole tacked to its lower edge, to roll upon as awnings to business houses are done. To render transparent and water proof, I used a receipt found in an old number of Am. Agriculturist, viz.: 1 qt. pale unboiled linseed oil, 4 oz. resin, 1 oz. sugar of lead, pulverized; heated in an iron pot, applied warm and let dry; give second coat.

This cloth has its upper edge tacked securely under a roof-like projection, over ridge pole (made to protect cloth when rolled up), having previously screwed into ridge pole rings 1 1/2 in. diameter, where it was secured strongly with small ropes, which lay directly on the glass, until the cloth was tacked in desired position. Then it was returned to top and passed again through same ring, from thence along under roof projection and through similar rings until end of house is reached. A gentle pull suffices to start the pole to rolling and continued effort lands it safely under the projection. So far so good. But how will I manage to get it to start back? So thus far gentle persuasion has not sufficed, and each time my man servant has to mount step-ladder at each end and give it a vigorous push to dislodge it. But this takes time and patience, and I would like to be told how to get it down as easily as we get it up.

I think cloth manipulated this way, would give to many, unable to indulge in artificial heat, or glass for hot beds, a safe and sure means of having as many cold frames for half hardy plants, for advancing tender vegetables, etc, as they desire, and here South, almost as good coverings to their flower pits as glass. I intend to test it in a large violet frame, 4x20 feet long, to have them the whole winter, removing cloth in summer and allowing violets to remain all the time.

Spartanburg, S. C.