The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1909-10-22
GREENHOUSE OF THE
MOST MODERN TYPE
That Built by c. w. Durham is
a Beauty.
VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, FRUIT
Now Flourishing Under Glass-Special
Room Devoted to Grapes-Tomatoes,
Cucumbers and Melons Will Be Ripe
for Christmas-W Strawberries.

Cucumbers and Melons Will Be Ripe
for Christmas-Winter Strawberries.
Brattleboro possesses one of the most
modern types of greenhouse in the pri-
yate one built by Charles w. Durham in
the rear of his residence on Linden street.
Work was begun upon the foundation
May Is and except for few minor details
the structure is complete. Lord Burn
ham, the well-known greenhouse construc-
ton experts of New York, built the green
house and the Office and workroom. with
storage room above, situated at the east
end. were built by Gilbert Dix Of Brattle-
boro. r. H. Messenger Mr.. Dunham's
gardener and florist, has had general
Supervision over the work during the sum-
mer At the time the contractors started
work upon the house the type OF construc-
ton had been used in only two other
the construction is the cast-iron benches
holding the plants. These benches are
five inches deep and are carried on racks
of oneinch wrought-iron pipe. There are
benches along the sides for the entire
length of the building and a double bench
through the center.
The building is little over 100 feet long
and 80 feet wide including the cellar wing
on the south side The main house is 10
IeeU lTOID lue llOOl W tIC ShpiS - ~,
vided into four rooms each OF which. can
be kept at different temperature from
the others. The room at the western end
of the house will be used for forcing grapes
and as a nursery for fruit trees. Next to
this room is another room of the same
size, 25 feet long and of the entire width OF
the main building, which is at, present
filled with tomatoes, melons and cucum,
bers. Mr.. Durham expects to have all
a.. &c n 1ac from his GREEN
house for his Christmas dinner. Already
he has cucumbers four and five inches IN
length, tomatoes as large as hens eggs,
and melons the size of walnuts. Between
this room and one largely occupied by
roses, there is room given over to carna-
tions and chrysanthemums. Potted straw
berry plants are also growing there.
The room to be devoted to grapes is ar
ranged with metal trellis which keeps
the vines near the glass. Mr.. Durham in
tends to use portion of the grape house
for transplanting fruit trees. Through the
entire house runs five-inch hot water
circulation system. This is carried beneath
the benches except in the grape house
where it is stacked in such shape as to
expose the greatest amount OF heating sur
face possible.
In the cellar" there is a south wing
which is at present occupied largely with
ing exhibit in this part of the house Is a
dozen thrifty pineapple plants which will
soon be putting forth spines indicating
fruit. Pineapples raised under glass are
much more tender than those raised under
sheds or awnings as is done in Florida and
Cuba. In one of the rooms of the main
house Mr.. Durham will soon set out peach,
pear, cherry, plum; and nectarine trees
A telegraph cucumber is growing in one
IS ~ oallo, bado and has alraady grown
to the length of seven or eight inches.
Such cucumbers grow to be Is or 20 inches
long and are of the diameter Of the ordi-
nary cucumber. Though the bed of Eng
lish violets has only recently been set
many of the plants are in blossom. At a
right angle from the main house and to
the south with the glass sloping to the
east is a cold frame which will be used in
the spring to force early vegetables. The
frame is connected with the hot water
heating system but during the winter will
be cut off from the rest of the circulation.
The heating apparatus is located beneath
the office and work room and coal bin
holding carload of coal is located within
few feet of the boiler. A system OF ven
tiation for the beds in the cellar IS made
by perforated wrought-iron pipes inserted
in the concrete at intervals. The founda-
ton of the house is concrete and the entire
construction is steel and cast-iron except
thin hunting between the glass and the
steel sash
The office, if it can be termed that, is
certainly gem from the standpoint OF fin
ishing and furnishings. The main room
which is called work room, is finished in
natural hard pine vanished. The doors
are of cherry. Opening out of the work
room is lavatory and above the room is
a storage loft for pots. At one side of the
room is refrigerator built into the side
of the building This is designed for stor-
ing flowers after being cut. A regulation
work bench and deep sink for washing
pots and plants occupy. different corners.
The entire house, upstairs and in the eel
lar, is lighted with tungsten lamps. Open
ing out of the work room is den finished
in natural pine and fitted with fireplace
and coy corner. The furniture is golden
oak upholstered in leather and shaggy
black bear skin adds touch of comfort to
the room. The floors of both rooms are
of hard wood. The west wall of the den is
of glass and can be slid aside making the
room part of the rose house. To sit down
to game of bridge amid roses and violets
with the mercury lowering around the dan
ger mark outside is part OF Mr.. Dunham's
program for this winter.
In addition to building this thoroughly
appointed greenhouse Mr.. Durham has
spent great deal of time and money in
identifying the flower garden and lmproV-
ing the plot devoted to vegetables at the
south of the greenhouse The flower gar
den has been raised about eight inches
above the vegetable garden. A thousand
tulips have been set out in the flower gar
den All of the wires and pipes entering
Mr.. Dunham's house, garage or green
house are brought underground to point
near the center of the driveway and to
the rear of his residence. At this point
well has been constructed where it is pos
sible for workmen to make connections
with water and gas pipes, electric light
and telephone wires. A large circular
flower bed has been constructed in front
of the garage and it will be set with choice
plants another spring. Mr.. Durham has a
shipment of rare plants, shrubs, trees, and
bulbs on the way from England. Many
people labor under the impression that Mr..
Durham will engage in the business of rails
ing truck for market. This is wrong for
he has built this greenhouse for his per
sonal use and has absolutely nothing to