Descriptiox. — In houses of the iron frame construction all possible parts are 

 constructed of iron. Flat iron posts bolted together set in concrete form the 

 supporting members for eaves, etc. Flat iron rafters run from these wall 

 supports to the ridge, baing held together \Aith angle iron purlins. The 

 sash bars are of wood and are attached to this iron frame work. In a few words, 

 this construction simply is a frame of iron which supports the sash bars on which the 

 glass is laid. It has been found that metal cannot take the place of wood in manu- 

 facturing; owing to the expansion and contraction of the metal in different weathers. 



Iron frame construction — showing tlie iron member 

 which acts as the supporting part of the house. 

 Solidity is tlie feature here. 



For this reason wooden bars are used to support the glass, and thus breakage is 

 checked. 



Different manufacturers vary somewhat in the forms of iron that are tised, 

 some using flat iron others T iron and others ordinary galvanized pipe for their 

 supporting members. The majority of growers seem to favor the flat iron rafter 

 house, that is a strip ol' iron runs from wall post to the ridge at intervals of eight 

 feet four inches or thereabouts. As a rule this distance has been found to 

 be the farthest apart that these iron members may be set without sacrificing strength 

 and support. These iron frame houses are all bolted together, so that once the 



