Evening star., 1940-01-27
BY w. H. YOUNGMAN.

questions submitted by redderS)
BY w. H. YOUNGMAN.
Many an ambitious home gardener
has longed for a little greenhouse
in which early spring gardening
could be carried on. Perhaps this
longing is due to the wearying drab-
ness of winter. Perhaps it is the
urge to start seeds and bulbs into
early growth so that their floral
display will be earlier and better
than that of the neighbors.
There is something fascinating
about small greenhouse that in
trigues us and we all look forward
to the day when our dream ship
comes home-the time when we can
have flowers throughout the winter,
where we can putter around in the
soil and start seeds to our hearts
content.
Some of the more aggressive gar
deners, however, do not wait for
their dream ship" but go ahead
and secure some form of glassed-in
place where plants can be grown
A "lean-to" glass house is the usual
form, although enlarged bays and
inclosed spaces about windows are
frequently constructed. Enterprising
manufacturers have been making
an effort to supply this demand.
Today we can buy miniature green
houses for starting seeds, portable
greenhouses for various uses and
ready-made bay windows for grow
ing plants.
Ventilation Important.
Most home gardeners want a
greenhouse for early spring activity
especially the starting of seeds and
bulbs. A greenhouse, however, that
Is capable of maintaining the neces-
sary heat during February and
March is good enough for use
throughout the winter, since Feb
ruary temperatures on the average
are only one degree higher than
January, the coldest month of the
year.
Factors to be considered in green
house construction are briefly: Ven-
tilation, which is very important in
any greenhouse. Ready-built houses
usually have ample provision, but
the homemade houses should pro-
vide for top, and in some cases side,
ventilation. Tightness, or let's put
1t care in construction, is essential
to keep heat loss at the minimum,
and also to reduce injury from drip
ping water. Thorough and frequent
painting is necessary to protect
greenhouses. Sturdy foundations
that keep the framework true and
strong add much to the pleasure of
the home greenhouse, whereas weak
and sagging foundations bring only
trouble and worry.
The location of the greenhouse is
usually determined by the availa BILE
space, but sunlight and protection
from the wind should be definitely
taken into consideration. The first
since it is important to plant growth,
the second as it affects the cost of
heating. Most greenhouses are To-
Gated adjacent to the house-the
usual source of heat and water-and
hence are conveniently placed.
Choosing Type of Heating.
Speaking of heat-it is one factor
that may make or break a green
house as far as successful operation
Is concerned. Artificial gases are
definitely "out," since the fumes are
fatal to many plants. The fumes
from oil heaters and from coal
stoves are detrimental and if they
are to be used the heater should
be located in separate room or
else carefully vented to remove any
possibility of damage. Electricity is
ideal, since the equipment occupies
practically no space. With it there
is no need of disfguring smoke
stack, but the cost may be prohibi-
tive. Hot water or steam from the
house are the usual sources and
where they can be used are salts
factory and not unduly expensive.
The choice of heat and heating
equipment is often determined by
plants TO be grown, since the tenn
perature requirements of plants vary
greatly. Roses are usually grown in
a temperature of 80 degrees, whereas
calendulas, cinerarias and many bull
bous plants do well in a temperature
Of around go degrees. For starting
seeds a temperature of around 60
to 10 degrees is satisfactory in most
cases.
Where there is some one available
at all times to regulate the heat, au-
tomato regulators are not necessary
but they add to the pleasure of a
greenhouse, as we'll as insure healthy
plant growth. In this area it is de-
sirable to plan on maintaining in
side temperatures when the outside
temperature is zero or slightly
higher. Subzero temperatures are
not unknown in this area, but are
so infTequent that it is doubtful il
the home gardener should make the
initial outlay for equipment neces-
sary to meet them.
Where the greenhouse is to be at.
tached to the house the gardener i!
fortunate indeed who plans for Il
at the time of designing or con.
structing his home. With such
foresightedness the greenhouse car
be made attractive looking and &
source of pleasure to the entire