10 



structure is properly erected the house is strong and substantial. Houses of this 

 construction practically cut out all supports in the house, and this is what the 

 vegetable grower requires. 



Houses 40 ft. in width may be constructed with no central supports whatever 

 from the ground, using only a fonn of compression trussing which holds the house 

 together and down. A house 75 ft. in width will require but two lines of supports 

 with braces and struts. 



Widths.— These iron frame houses can be built any width a grower wishes. 

 It is not economical to use this form of construction in a house under fort}-- feet in 

 width, but it is not advised to build over 75 or 85 ft. in width. Many houses 75 ft. 

 in width are being built throughout the States, as well as a few in Canada, and this 

 width seems to be an economical one to use. Houses 40 ft. in width with no 

 supports save the truss work also are very much in favor. 



Erection. — These iron frame houses are 'all manufactured in separate pieces 

 m foundries, iron parts cut required lengths, all holes bored and the house in many 

 cases set up to see that everything fits before being shipped on to the builder. The 

 parts are all properly labeled, and a blue print of the plan of the houses showing 

 details which accompanies each house gives the exact position for each member. It 

 is no trouble to erect one of these iron frame houses, for the whole house goes 

 together in sections, and once one section is satisfactorily erected the remainder of 

 the house goes together like clock work. Growers differ as to whether it is more 

 economical to erect the house by means of home labor or by letting the contract to a 

 construction company whose employees do nothing else but erect these houses. 

 One grower in the vicinity of Boston purchased a house from another grower, took 

 it down and re-erected it for himself, and says he had no trouble whatever; in fact 

 he claims to have made a better job than some of the construction firms would have 

 done. Another grower near Erie erected a house 75 by 460 ft. from start to finish, 

 and one would not wish to see a better house. A man with average mechanical 

 ability can erect a house of this construction with very little trouble, but whether 

 it will pay him to do so rather than let the contract to a firm who make a business 

 of this erection is a question. Some progressive men told me that they were money 

 in pocket when they gave the construction company the contract to do all the work 

 on the house. They claimed that they more than made what it cost them, to erect 

 the house by being free from all worr\% and being able to look after the selling of 

 the produce on other parts of their plant. It is simply a? the man himself looks at 

 it, and whether he has the time to look after the erection himself and bear the 

 responsibilities of having it go together in good shape. 



Ontario growers should use this form of construction in preference to others 

 under certain conditions. In the first place these houses cost in some cases 

 more to build than other forms of houses of other construction. The initial 

 cost is high, there is no question about it. But this must be borne in mind by all 

 prospective builders : that once one of these houses is up it is up to stay, and will 

 last as long as the grower and still have a further lease of life. Houses which cost 

 much less to build at the start soon show effects of wear and tear. In ten to fifteen 

 years time they need many repairs, and in many cases require new stock all through. 

 Not so with greenhouses in which a framework of iron is used. They are still 

 giving entire satisfaction at the end of thirty years' service. The iron greenhouse 

 gives a solid house which no wind can blow in or out. This has been proven in 

 Ontario and in parts of the IJnited States durinnr the past two years. The iron 

 work when properly made and erected can weather the worst of storms. Xo vibra- 

 tion of glass is seen in a windstorm, in fact practically no motion is felt in any part 



