Medium glass bell jar cloche. A faithful reproduction of the original Victorian glass bell jar. – small and large also available. Both practical and decorative for outdoor or indoor use. They make excellent cloches for protecting young plants from harsh weather and will add character and charm to any garden. With the built on ball handle at the top, the cloches can easily be picked up and moved from plant to plant, or lifted up to tend the plant underneath. Manufactured from real glass, the Victorian glass bell jar cloches are hand-blown for authenticity. The weight of the glass ensures that the cloches will not blow away in stormy conditions and, unlike plastic, glass will trap the warmth of the sun in early Spring, boosting growth. In February, if the cloche is placed on the earth over the planting position, it will allow the soil to begin warming up before planting. In warmer weather use a small piece of wood to provide a ventilation gap at the bottom, removing it at night as the temperatures cool. In Victorian times the cloches were used to bring on early vegetable crops, with fields of cloches laid in rows, each with a tender plant underneath. Produce was taken to market to be sold, with a considerable price premium on the very earliest crops harvested. Large Victorian kitchen gardens would have had their own cloches for their vegetable supplies. The term ‘cloche’ meaning bell in French originated in 1800’s as they were originally used in Parisian market gardens. Medium glass bell cloche: 10? (25cm) diameter. External height approx 25cm Internal height approx 20cm. These real glass cloches are hand blown in India. Dimensions & Weight: Dimensions: L25 x W25 x H25 cm Weight: 8kg