The Portland daily press., 1888-12-14
WHERE 1T Is ALWAYS SUMMER.
A Visit to the Tropical Nooks In
DeerIng.


During the cold winter months when
snow covers the earth and the sharp pene-
trating north wind has full sway, when
most out of door Vegetation lies dead and
buried under ice and snow it is especially
pleasant to be able with a single step to pass
from the frigid climate and white fields to
paradise Of living yerdure and tropical
warmth. Where the delicate asparagus ten
ulssimus. the crimson hibiscus, the variegat-
ed coleus, azaleas, hell otrope and roses lux
uriantly grow it is delightful on winters
day to linger. To enjoy such privilege re-
quires but slight effort on the part OF any
body living even in cold Maine.
Yesterday the PRESS reporter visited
number Of these topical places and enjoyed
for few hours the same sunshine that made
alyssum, lilies and pinks blossom all around
him. From Portland ii is about two miles
to Davis g. Co.'s Dirigo greenhouses at
Deering Centre, and thither the wr4cr
went. Probably Davis & Co., have theLs 1T
greenhouses in Maine. Leaving the street
one enters the company's office, beautiful
apartment finished in oak and white wood.
and lighted in part through stained glass
windows. A few chairs, a desk. table, a
handsome glass front refrigerator is the
furniture in this room. Passing through
door way at the right the rose house is
reached. Here are hundreds of these beau
tiful plants of all varieties and sizes. Then
there are Gala lilies and some coieus cut
tings here. In the next house is bed of beau
tiful smilax and graceful strings OF aspar-
agus tenuissimus, while farther ON is
house full of carnation pinks of
many varieties, scores Of them being in full
bloom. Another house Is devoted to yegeta-
bles, and in it are now growing frank lettuce
plants almost large enough to put upon the
market. parsley and radish These houses
are heated by night and on cloudy days by
steam, but if there is no wind, no matter IL it
is zero weather out of doors and the sun is
out, that great furnace of the heavens is
sufficient TO raise the temperature in the
greenhouses to tropical heat. The steam
heating apparatus is of latest designs, and
the arrangements for watering the plants
is very convenient. Davis 81 Co.'s green
houses are all new and large, and they ex-
pect eventually to enlarge their establish
ment.
c. S. Goddard the other well known Deer
has an extensive establishment. Hehas near.
ly 5000 feet of glass, and grows all kinds OF
plants to about as near perfection as 1t Is pos
sible to raise them. Next to his well ar
ranged office In his rose house. Fine plants
they are, many Of them six feet high Then
there is swamp Of large Gala lilies. Hun
dreds OF carnation pinks, scores Of gerani-
| ums, coleus, fuchsias and stevia cover the
benches. Mr.. Goddard is a practical florist,
State. He heats his houses with q brick fiu hue
| and Is satisfied with that. Raising thousands
| OF plants yearly he has never yet been able
| to grow enough to supply all his customers,
but he proposes to keep enlarging his houses
build a rose house 50x20 feet, and perhaps
other houses Mr.. Edward Goddard also
thinks some Of building another greenhouse
| At Aliens Corner, about three miles from
Portland. are situated the greenhouses of w.
| E: Morton q Co. There are nine OF them In
| all and they cover nearly a quarter of an
acre Of ground. Marion & Co. are now run
ming three of their nine houses and next
| spring they will open the Others They
| grow no bedding plants and have no plants
| of any kind on sale, but raise large quanti-
ties OF flowers from plants which they grow
for that express purpose. One of the houses
| ing little less than a thousand Of these beau
tiful plants covered with buds and blossoms.
| Then In another house Is a bed of maiden
hair ferns. containing q thousand plants
we nave, Said mr.. morton, 5000 bulbs in
the rest are miscellaneous varieties. We are
| not forcing our roses this winter but are
| holding them back ior our Bar Harbor sum
mer trade. In April we shall set out. nearly
i9.ooV rose Dnsnes. ana snail force them to
THESE bushes VIII pc 900 Mrs John Lang, the
new rose a whose blossoms are now selling for
apont Sz.U eacn. AIier tne holidays we
snall THROW cut our plnKs ana use the space
iol roses. 9
morton q W. rose growing establishment
Is tne largest IN Deering: ana IN the spring
Wnen tne plants are LOOKING best many peo-
PiS. e 70 see Lnem: tuiips ana hyacinths,
Henu.lope anu r3ses. togetner Win the grace
naLtons make these houses delightful re-
Sot prohoh,,, ~ ,aar,s. q, .H,. ..,.,.s,
ICY aI49Dapg no 49rist "a tnis yicln15y under