Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-11-30
CHEAP LITTLE GREENHOUSE
POSSIBLE TO BUILD AND EQUIP ONE
FOR FIFTY DOLLARS.
Which, With Proper Care, Should
Yield Hundred Per Cent in
Pleasure and Profit,

Written for The Evening Star.
The greenhouse. pure and simple, is pos-
siblc only in exceptionally favored local.
ties, where the soil is so well drained that
water does not rise in excavations and the
winters are so mild that sun heat under
protecting glass is all that tenderest plants
demand. Whoever in such a location has
a stretch of sunny outer wall, with a few
feet of spare space along it, may have
loads Of flowers the winter through at
very slight expense either in money or
trouble, and all the more If drum with
heated air from a furnace 1ue is set UP
just outside the wall
For such greenhouse dig down beside
the house wall to a depth of three feet and
a breadth Of six, all along the available
stretch. Put down a concrete floor, six
inches thick and wall up to a foot above
ground with either stone brick or concrete
Upon top of this wall, set wooden frame
2x4 scantling are stout enough for it, Board
up the frame within and without to a
height of eight inches. Above that have
glass; running on to glass roof. The roof
is a lean-to stayed against the house wall.
Have door in the end, with steps down to
it, If possible also have a door from the
house-thus in sharp weather one can go in
and out without letting in cold air.
Fifty dollars should build and equip such
a greenhouse. Seventy-five is liberal es-
innate. Fit it inside with slat walk ways,
laid upon the concrete floor, bench of
earth all along the side, Its top level with
the glass; and racks rising like steps
against the house-wall space. Also. have
strong hooks overhead to hold swinging
baskets and pots.
Plant in each outer corner a strong root
of some climbing rose. Marechal Mel or
Cloth of Gold will do excellently. Dig
through the concrete floor and make a rich
bed for the rose roots Let them stay there
constantly. Have the roof movable SO it
can be raised In summer, or taken wholly
away. Train the roses upon wires just un-
derneath the roof.
Passion flowers may well be set In deep
box of the richest earth against some part
of the house wall and trained to cover it
with purble bloom. If the greenhouse
stands outside a parlor, by making the
walls high enough to let the roof reach the
tops of the windows, the glass of them
NAV have traceries Of living bloom.
Plant seed and root cuttings in the bench,
pricking them out, as sthey grow, into little
pots, and shifting from the little to big
ones Plant bulbs also in the bench; hya-
cinths and tulips for Christmas blossom
about the first of August, and later ones
in Succession l7Plant also a few bulbs in
pots, Set Them in the shade under the
bench for six weeks, until they have struck
strong roots, then set in the light and wa
ter freely while they are growing. After
the buds are well set, take the pots into
the house-seventy degrees will not hurt
them, though the greenhouse Temperature
will run between fifty and sixty. Crocuses
will bloom in it, and many, many other
things. Almost any. flower will bud. in
fact. though for perfect blossom a little
more warmth Is needed.