MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 59 
that had been placed on a solid bench from 4 to 8 feet inside 
of a single wall of the type just mentioned. At that time 
the temperature in the house at 3 feet above the ground was 
10° below freezing, while outside it was 30° below zero with 
a strong wind blowing. The wall was not old and was built 
of a good grade of lumber, was covered with tar paper with 
a stucco finish outside, and, we were confident, was as tight 
as a wall of this kind can be made. We were not decided 
whether the frost had penetrated the wall or the foundation 
or whether it had come through the ground under the shal- 
low foundation that is usually found in greenhouses. We 
were sure, however, that if we had had a properly air-spaced 
wall we should have known under a like condition that the 
frost came through the ground. 
Naturally, the remaining item in the discussion of a green- 
house end or wall is the foundation. Commercial green- 
house men either neglect the importance of a deep founda- 
tion or else consider it too expensive for most establishments, 
for it is seldom included in greenhouse equipment. It seems 
quite evident to the writer that if plants will freeze in ex- 
treme weather in a greenhouse with such an end as has been 
described, that no small part of the frost must have come 
through the ground under the wall; and as there must also 
be a considerable amount of heat escaping during milder 
weather, it would be advisable and economical to give more 
consideration to a foundation. Very often a cement base 
which is placed under the door-sill is raised by the frost to 
such an extent that the end of the house becomes warped 
and the glass falls out of one or more runs, making an un- 
sightly and loose end. This, too, could be overcome by a 
deep foundation. 
Our observations have been drawn from the experience 
of an unusually severe winter, the like of which we may not 
see for a great many years, but the lessons which it taught 
will be of profit for a long time to come. A thing that will 
not stand a severe test is very apt to be inefficient during the 
ordinary test, so we advise building greenhouses with deep 
solid foundations, with double with an air space be- 
tween, and with double glass ends to keep out the cold. It 
will be found economy under the ordinary test and great 
satisfaction under the severe test. Every good grower knows 
the advantages of uniform and even heating, and although 
the temperature cannot be entirely regulated with the steam 
pipes, it can be materially helped by cg, Byatt walls 
and ends. If the ends of the houses can be maintained at 
the same temperature as the center, equally good stock can 
be grown there, and in this great age of efficiency and best 
