The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1909-08-27
MONSTER ROSE HOUSE
North Wales, Pa, to Have Big
gest of Greenhouses.
FOR AMERICAN BEAUTIES ONLY
Florist, Impressed by Demand For Elk
pensive Flowers Among Wealthy
Persons, Conceived the Idea of Gull
tivatine Popular Rose In Building
Covering Nearly Two Acres.

Persons, Conceived the Idea of Gull
tivatins Popular Rose In Building
Covering Nearly Two Acres.
Resembling railroad train shed
more than a greenhouse, a monster
structure of glass and iron tubing is
being erected at North Wales, Pa,
which when completed will cover an
eXpanse of almost two acres and will
be the largest greenhouse in the world.
1t will stand beside another green
house of somewhat smaller dimensions,
which at present holds the worlds
record for size among such structures
Both these greenhouses will be devot-
ed solely to growing American Beauty
roses, one of the costliest 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 So to $1S a dozen.
\ single plant under the hothouse fore
ing process produces about half doz-
en- first class blooms in a season.
One florist concluded that, instead of
following the old time plan of having
number Of greenhouses of ordinary
size, Il great saving in the matter of
the cost Ct material and of the subse-
quent heating Of the building could be
effected by erecting one large struc-
ture.
Seven Hundred Feet Long.
But owing to the frail character of
the construction, builders shook their
heads when it was proposed to put up
a greenhouse 100 feet broad and al
most four times that lCng. Finally a
daring contractor was induced to IN
uertake The work. So successful was
the outcome that the projectors Of
the enterprise are now about to Guido
themselves by building 4 still larger
greenhouse. The one that has been in
use for two years is 80 feet high at
the center. $50 feet wide, 425 feet long
on one side and 575 feet on the other,
the irregular shape having been adopt
ed 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 feet long.
In the greenhouses there will be
space for about 100000 rosebushes.
The present building contains $4,000
arranged on beds, or benches" as
florists call them, which if placed in a
continuous row would be two and
three-quarter miles long. The life OF
the forced dollhouse rose plant is but
year. Plants are grown from cut
tings planted early in the year. BY
Christmas time they begin to produce
the magnificent long stemmed and
durable blooms that are the delight OF
the society belle and the devastation
of the society youths pocketbook. The
plants grow to great height and are
supported by being tied to wires
stretched through the greenhouse.
Thousands of Panes of Glass Needed
The task of building the greenhouse
is an intricate process. Immense scat
folding somewhat resembling the seat
in circus tent, is reared, and perchet
upon this the workmen place the irol
framework and the panes of glass il
position. For the older greenhouse al
most $4,000 panes Of glass were need
ed, and five freight cars were required
to carry the glass to North Wales.
The foundation and sides Of thu
greenhouses are of concrete. Pipes TO
the water supply and the steam heat
ing system form an important part o
the plant, for the temperature must b
maintained at about 60 degrees al
winter, while water is needed for tn
frequent spraying Of the plants. Flo
the latter purpose the older greenhous
has 275 spigots.-Philadelph Record