River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1905-09-07

products which must of necessity be
grown by intensive methods; that is,
such products will be of more or less
perishable nature, and for this reason
they will have to be grown compare
lively close to where they are to be
consumed.
The population of 20 of our largest
eastern cities and their contributory
territory will aggregate 15,000,000 peo-
pie. Both population and wealth are
constantly increasing, and in conse-
quence there is growing demand for
something more than the mere neces-
stiles of life. Fruits, flowers and vege-
tables are needed to meet the require
ments of life, and these, to be fur
nished at their best, must be grown
for the most part at hand and pro-
duced in such a way that the largest
return can be secured from given
area of land with a minimum risk. To
accomplish this result it must be prac-
ticable to control to large extent
climate, soil, moisture, temperature,
and, in a measure, light. The only
way this can be done successfully and
practically is through the medium of
glass houses.
A few years ago structures of this
kind were looked upon more or less
generally as means for supplying the
tables of a comparatively few wealthy
private individuals or to serve for the
growing of ornamental plants which
had no strictly economic value. At
the present time this view of the sub
ject is rapidly changing and the time
has come when the construction Of
glass houses and the production of
plants under glass are regarded much
in the same light as the development of
manufacturing interests in a large
factory; in other words, q modern
greenhouse establishment is SO handled
at the present time that in many re-
spects it is a factory, utilizing ma
lures forces in a way to reverse the
seasons for the purpose of converting
into wealth the products Of the soil.
The fields that are open may be
considered under several heads: Cen
eral plant growing; special fields, as
vegetable growing and flower growing;
and then the ultraspecial fields, as
specialization with certain croGA such
as roses, carnations or violets.
The field of general plant growing
probably offers more opportunities
than any of the others; that is, oppor-
tunitjcs for greater number of peo-
pie. IN the vicinity CT every town or
city having a population of from 5000
to 10000 there may be found in most
cases good openings for the ambitious
and progressive young man who de-
sires to supply home market with
general crops which may be grown
partly under glass and partly in very
Intensive way out of doors. The de-
:nand in towns and cities of this size,
of course, is not for any great quantity
of any one thing; hence, the necessity
for producing a variety, as ornamental
plants for use in home yards, plants
for cut flowers, vegetables, etc.-a gen.
eral miscellaneous stock.
For an ordinary establishment Of
this nature half an acre of ground is
sufficient for a small start. An acre
would be better. Due attention must
be given to the location with respect to
soil. water facilities, and opportunities
for securing fuel and other essential
things required in general work In
most cases half an acre of ground I'M
der such circumstances can be bought
for $500. To equip properly small