772 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



GREENHOUSE rJ.ANTS AND VARIETIES. 



It can hardilv be questioned, I believe, that the growing of 

 plants in the window wae the fore-runner of the greenhouse struc- 

 tures of to-day, in which to shelter exotic and other tender plants 

 from frost and to force flowering plants into bloom out of their 

 natural season. Great improvements have been made in the build- 

 ing of greenhouses during the past twenty-five years; especially does 

 thi.s apply when used in floriculture and the growing of plants for 

 decorative purposes, which come under the head of ornamental hor- 

 ticulture. 



The first greenhouse built would, it is natural to suppose, be an 

 attachment to a residence, and in those early days what are termed 

 "lean-to's" were the most generally in use. The term "lean-to" means 

 that the wall, which was a part of the residence, upon which the 

 greenhouse appeared to lean was utilized as one side of the struc- 

 ture, and the sash-bars were secured at the top to the house side and 

 at the lower end to a wall low enough to give the necessary angle to 

 allow^ rain and snow to fall naturallv therefrom, and at the same 

 time to give the sun an opportunity to reflect his life-giving rays 

 therein. And the methods emp-loyed in these days also are to build 

 greenhouses to catch every possible sun ray, that is to say, when such 

 a structure is erected for the purpose of producing flowers in the 

 more or less frosty nights and cloudy days of winter, with some ex- 

 ceptions, which will be noted in due course. 



The variety in styles of greenhouses now in use is almost infinite. 

 Indeed each individual has his own ideas which he has naturally em- 

 bodied into a plant-growing structure. 



In regard to growing plants under glass, flowering plants are es- 

 pecially in mind. Among the most popular flowering plants for cut 

 flower purposes to-day that are hardy, or very nearly so, we note 

 here. 



We will place the Rose first, and with very slight protection from 

 severe frost, all the popular varieties used in the wanter season are, 

 speaking generally, hardy. That is also true to a great extent with 

 the Carnation and the Chrvsanthemum; and in the Lily of the 

 Valley it is quite true as to its thorough hardiness, and which, by the 

 way, may be had in flower, if due notice is given, on any day at any 

 time of the year. This is brought about by a systematic arrange- 

 ment with cold storage, in which to keep the roots dormant until 

 the proper time. 



