GREEN-HOUSES, AND THEIR MANAGEMENT. 



BY D. E. K., ROXBOEO, PA. 



Having frequently heard complaints, particularly among amateurs, or those who do 

 not keep professional gardeners, of the difficulty of getting a good supply of flowers 

 from their green-houses during the winter months, I thought I would ofter a few sug- 

 gestions on the subject, for their especial benefit, altliough some of the professional 

 gardeners will no doubt smile at their simplicity ; and in doing so, I will endeavor to 

 be as brief as possible. 



In the first place, care must be taken that your house is well built, so that it will 

 exclude the outer air. 



Second, It must not be too large for the heating apparatus. A small house well 

 heated will produce more flowers than a large one poorly heated. 



Third, Have your furnace and stock-hole entirely within the house — say under the 

 center stage. This I am aware is objected to by some ; but if the flues draw Avell, 

 which they will be sure to do if there is a regular ascent in them from the furnace to 

 the chimney, and coke or charcoal" is used in kiadling the fires, you will never be 

 incommoded with smoke or gas, while the additional heat obtained will be at least a 

 fourth. Be careful not to let the earth come in contact with either flues or furnace. 



Fourth, Provide a good supply of outer shutters, to use at night. 



Fifth, Do not build your house too high, or all the heated air will ascend, and 

 leave the lower part of the house too cold. And this brings us to the most important 

 matter of all, namely, the requisite degrees of heat and moisture to promote health 

 and bloom. 



Many amateurs are greatly misled by the directions given in works on gardening, 

 particularly in those published in England, as to the temperature and ventilation. In 

 most of these works the minimum temperature of a green-house is set down at 40°; 

 and consequently the young beginner thinks that so long as he keeps his plants from 

 freezing^ he is perfectly safe. This temperature will answer for what are considered 

 strictly green-house plants — such as Camellias, Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Laurustinus, 

 Pittosporums, and other hard- wooded plants ; but in a mixed green-house, Avhere there 

 is a large proportion of soft-wooded and herbaceous plants, a much higher temperature 

 must be maintained, in order to have them bloom well. For this purpose the mercury 

 in ordinary winter weather should not fall below 60°, or 55° in very severe weather, 

 and do not be alarmed if it rises to "70° or 75° on a fine bright day. The directions 

 given in English works, and too often followed by English gardeners, in regard to 

 ventilation, are not at all suited to the climate of the Northern and Middle States of 

 the Union. Our atmosphere is so much drier, and our winters so much colder, that 

 much less ventilation will answer. The difficulty we frequently have to contend with, 

 is that in cold windy weather we have too much ventilation ; and I am satisfied tliat if 

 some of my amateur friends would expend a tiifle more in cotton (for filling crevices), 

 coal, and shutteis, and less in buying the latest novelties, we should have fewer com- 

 plaints of the want of boquets during the winter moTiths. While insisting strongly on 

 h temperature, let me not neglect to enjoin on my readers the importance of siip- 

 the plants with plenty of moisture. The whole matter can be comprehended 



