The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-08-15
Erecting Largest Glass Struc-
ture at North Wales,
Pennsylvania.
SHED COVERS TWO ACRES
At THIS GREAT PLANT the FLOR
lists WILL GROW ONLY AMERi.
CAN BEAUTY RosEs-eUILpiNc
HARD TASK.


greenhouse. a monster structure of
here, which, when completed. will COW
er an expanse of almost two acres.
and will be the largest greenhouse in
the world. 1t will stand beside an
other greenhouse of somewhat smaller
dimensions, which at present holds
the worlds record for size among such
structures. Both these greenhouses
will be devoted solely to growing AM
erican beauty roses, one of the coStli-
est of flowers.
Impressed by the demand among
wealthy society people for roses Of the
most expensive nature. several New
York florists few years ago began
the cultivation of American beauty
roses on a fifty-four-acre tract on the
western outskirts Of North Wales
These roses at the height of the social
season from Christmas until after
Easter. are sold at Sc to S18 a dozen.
A, single plant, under the dollhouse
forcing process, produces about a half
dozen first class blooms in a season.
David Fuernstenberg. the leading
spirit in the North Wales venture, con.
cluded that, instead of following the
old-time plan of having a number of
greenhouses of ordinary size. a great
saving in the matter of the cost of ma
terial and of the subsequent heating OF
the building could be effected by
erecting one large structure.
Feared 20 Big Structure.
But. owing to the frail character OF
the construction, builders shook their
heads when it was proposed to put
up a greenhouse $50 feet broad and
almost four times that long. Finally
daring contractor was induced to
undertake the work. So successful
was the outcome that the projectors
of the enterprise are now about tC
Outrival themselves by building a still
greater greenhouse. The one that has
been in use for two years is 80 feet
high in the center, $50 feet wide, AGE
feet long on one side and SIS feet or
the other, the irregular shape hav
ing been adopted to afford a wide
southern exposure. The new structure
will be Of the same height and width
as the older one, but will be 700 fee,
long.
In the greenhouses there will be
space for about 100000 rose bushes
The present building contains $4,000
arranged on beds-or benches al
florists call them, which II placed in &
continuous row would be two ant
| three-quarter miles long. The life o.
the forced dollhouse rose plant is but
year. Plants are grown from cut
tings planted early in the year. B,
Christmas time they begin to produce
magnificent 1ong-stemmed and durable
blooms that are the delight of the so
ciety belle and the devastation of tn.
society youths pocketbook. tn.
plants grow in great height, and ar,
supported by being tied to wire'
stretched through the greenhouse.
Building a Hard Task.
The task Of building the greenhouse
is an intricate process Immens,
scaffolding. somewhat resembling tn
seats in a circus tent, is reared, an,
perched upon this the workmen plac,
the iron framework and the panes O
lglass In position. For the older green
house almost $4,000 panes of glas
iwere needed, and five freight car
were required to bring the glass here
/ The foundations and sides of tn,
greenhouse are of concrete. Pipes 70
the water supply and the steam hea,
ing system form an important part o
the plant. for the temperature mus
be maintained at about so degrees al
winter, while water is needed for tn
frequent spraying Of the plants Fo
the latter purpose the older green
house has 275 spigots.
Besides the rose houses. two greer
houses of ordinary size are devote
to growing carnations. AS may b
Imagined from the extent OF the es
Establishment, many gardeners and ID
iborers are employed to care for tn
FLOWERS.