770 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



THE) MANAGEMENT OF GREENHOUSES. 



Uv Eywix Lonsdale, Wyndmoor, Pa. 



INTKODUCTOKY. 



While greenhouses lor the growing of a general collection of plants 

 have long been in use, commercial greenhouses for the growing of cut 

 flowers, especially for winter, are of comparative!}' recent develop- 

 ment, dating back not much more than twenty-five years in Penn- 

 sylvania. 



In the spring of 1880, an establishment was started near Phila- 

 delphia — modest in its proportions, it is true — in which to grow cut 

 flowers to be disposed of under wholesale arrangements. There 

 were three greenhouses, each one hundred feet long. The one for 

 roses was twenty-three feet wide. In that house w^ere grown five 

 varieties, namely: Safrano, Isabella Spruut, Bon Silene, Niphetos 

 and Perle des Jardins, none of which are grown in any quantity for 

 winter blooming at the present time in or near to the larger cities. 

 Another house was for Carnations, and the variety grown was prin- 

 cipally, King of the Crimsons. This variety found ready sale on ac- 

 count of its color to help out the celebrated crimson rose. General 

 Jacqueminot (''Jack"), which was at the height of its popularity 

 about that time. The third house was devoted entirely to Smilax, 

 botanically known at that time as MyrsiphyUwn asparagoides ; 

 now, according to Bailey it is classified as an Asparagus^ A. 

 medeoloides. At this time little or no other green was grown 

 to associate with flowers, excepting, possibly. Maidenhair 

 Fern — Adiantum cuneatum, — and that in very limited quantity. This 

 house contained about 3,.500 plants, which proved at that time to be 

 more than Philadelphia could use to advantage. Florists in the 

 cities of New York and Washington, however, were only too glad 

 to take the surplus, and for several years, florists of the two cities 

 named depended largely upon this establishment for much of their 

 Smilax supply. Smilax was at that time an excellent paying crop, 

 frequently yielding one dollar per square foot, which is considered 

 very profitable. 



