460 



CHEAP SUBSTITUTE FOR GREEN-HOUSES. 



ping to count the cost. But " we, the peo- 

 ple," are neither commercial gardeners, nor 

 men of wealth ; yet we love the beautiful 

 things which God has made ; and there are 

 pure tastes which would seek pleasure in 

 this source of enjoyment, without the appa- 

 rent means of gratification. 



To such I would say, that any one who 

 has sufficient mechanical genius to dig a 

 hole, or build a pig-pen, may have plants 

 in winter, and never realise the trouble or 

 expense they occasion. I know this from 

 having tried the experiment. 



For several years previous to the present, 

 I was living in town, where I had no place 

 for a green-house, nor did I feel inclined to 

 erect one there if this had not been the 

 case. Selecting a place in the garden 

 where the sun would shine for the longest 

 time, in the short cold days of winter, I 

 had a pit dug, six feet in depth, having the 

 sides nearly perpendicular, sloping only 

 enough to prevent their "caving in," ex- 

 cept the north, which was left with a con- 

 siderable slope, so as to present a fairer sur- 

 face to the rays of the sun. Against this 

 slope was erected a rough staging for pot 

 plants. Around this hole was built a pen 

 of rough planks, nailed to studs standing 

 on the ground, — the studs being on the out- 

 side of the partition ; and outside of this 

 another of the same sort, with studs on the 

 outside, leaving a space of about fifteen 

 inches between, — the studs of the two par- 

 titions being connected by ties, to give 

 strength to the wall. The space between 

 may be filled with tan, or fresh stable ma- 

 nure. I have tried both, with equal suc- 

 cess. The walls in front and rear may be 

 two and a half or three feet high, and 

 rising to a ridge which should be at least 

 two-thirds of the distance from front to 

 rear, giving a gentle inclination to the 

 south, and a short steep pitch to the north. 



The southern slope is to be covered with 

 common green-house sash and glass. That 

 is the only part of the structure requiring 

 me hanical aid or expense. All the re- 

 mainder can be done by a common laborer, 

 properly directed. No door is required. 

 Enter by raising a light of sash, and de- 

 scend by a ladder or steps, which you may 

 make in your own way. 



In a cold stove of this description, I have 

 kept for several winters Oleanders, Rhodo- 

 dendrons, all the tender Roses, Camellias, 

 Cactus, Calla etheopica, Hydrangeas, Abu- 

 tilon striatum, Oranges, Azaleas, wall flow- 

 ers, Hyacinths, Pelargoniums, and divers 

 others, in perfect safety, without any arti- 

 ficial heat whatever ; and I have no doubt 

 the list might be many times doubled. 

 Some of the more tender plants are unsafe, 

 though I have kept Fuchsias, Ixias, Oxalis 

 Bowii, Nerine undulata, &c, but they do 

 not do as well. There are several little 

 flowering plants which are perfectly at 

 home here. The Polyanthus grows all win- 

 ter, and is sure to be showing its pretty smi- 

 ling face the first sunny days of February. 



There is, therefore, in the fact that we 

 may not have green-houses, arranged upon 

 scientific principles and erected at conside- 

 rable expense, no reason why we shall 

 deny ourselves the pleasure of having exotic 

 plants in winter. When the weather is not 

 too cold, they may be allowed to visit the 

 parlor, where their lively green and bloom- 

 ing faces will give unequivocal evidence 

 that they are perfectly contented with their 

 winter quarters. 



At this present writing, I have Camellias 

 as fine as I ever saw, Avhich have been 

 kept without furnaces, flues, or water-pipes; 

 and during the present winter the mercury 

 has been twice below zero. Yours, 



S. B. Gookins. 



Terre Haute, Feb. 15, 1350. 



