Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1899-09-07
ZONE GREENHOUSES.
Some Valuable Information About
Raining Them by One
Who Knows.

l am asked about the cost of small
greenhouses, if it is possible for the
amateur to manage them successfully,
and how they should be constructed
and heated. In reply to the first in
quiry, l would say that it is not pos
sible for me to give any estimate of
cost which would apply to all sections
ofthe country, because the cost of work
and material varies so that what would
apply to one locality would be wide
ly out of the way in another. 1t is al
ways the best plan to let your local
carpenter furnish an estimate for
you. Find out what you want,
and he will soon be able to figure
out what it will cost you. Of course,
the amateur florist does not understand
very clearly himself what he wants;
but if he will visit any city or large
village he will find greenhouses enough
to give him pretty good idea of what
he requires. 1 would suggest taking
the local carpenter with you, and let
him see for himself what you conclude
would suit you in the way of a build
ing. An interview with florist WIN
generally give you great many points
which will be of great benefit to you.
and if your builder is with you and
hears what is said, he will get better
idea of matters and things than he
will be likely to get if you report the
interview to him. Twill say, right here,
that small greenhouse is not very
expensive. The expensive greenhouses
are the large ones and those which arc
deliberately ornamented. a plain house,
made snug and tight, with as great an
amount of glass as possible, need not
cost u large amount, and just as fine
plants can be grown in such house as
can be grown in the most costly con-
servatory. The points to aim at are
all the light possible and the exclusion
of cold.
Heating the greenhouse is generally
a subject of much Importance. If one
has steam or hot-water heat in the
dwelling, it is an easy matter to en-
tend this system to the greenhouse,
when it is built. If neither of these sys
SSlho 10 III oPVldtiCiI, Gil
one may be necessary. In case the
house is Is feet or whereabouts in width
and as many or more in length, would
advise the use of one of the base-burn-
ing water-heaters made expressly for
use in small greenhouses. These are
perfect in operation, as l know from
personal experience, easily managed,
and not expensive; and the quality of
heat furnished by them is of the best.
Very small houses can be heated quite
satisfactorily by oil-stoves, but they
will require as much attention as the
base-burner, OF more, and in very cold
weather they may fail to come up to
the demand one has to make OH them.
L would advise the use of a base burn
ing water-heater and | would advise
making the house at least IS by "a feet,
with roof wholly of glass, with an even
slope to east and west. This will give
one room enough for a great many
plants; but there will be none too much
room, as, after little, one will become
so much of an enthusiast in Horticulture
that one will be sure to add new plants
yearly, and little room would prove
source of vexation because of it's inabil-
ity to accommodate the plants one
would like to have.
AS to management, any one can mas
ter it. That is the least thing to worry
about. If you love plants you will be
willing to study them, and in a short
time you will find yourself able to grow
them well, and year after year you will
learn more and more about them, and
take up the cultivation of those which
the amateur could not expect to sue
coed with at first; and, before you are
aware of it, you will be an experienced
florist. And you will find the work de-
lightful. / know of nothing that is
more SO. There is always something to
look ahead to, something more to
learn; some new plant to take in hand.
One of the strong arguments in favor
of the home greenhouse is-that in it
we can grow many of.the most desir-
able plants in cultivation with which
we could not expect success in the liv-
ing-room. In a real greenhouse we can
make conditions favorable to the devel-
opment of most plants. We can regu-
late the heat, the light, the moisture, to
nicely. 1t brings within our reach a
world of beauty which we cannot have
without such a house and home for our
plants. 1 would advise every lover of
fine flowers to bend all their energies
to the possession Of such Il Mace in
which to grow plants.
If you can possibly afford it, have
little greenhouse.-Eben L. Rexford, in
Ledger Monthly.