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"Why not have a Greenhouse ? 



ED. Western Horticulturist: To a large majority of people a greenhouse is 

 a charming place ; at least so we may judge from the admiring exclamations that 

 escape their lips on entering one. There is something so attractive in the appearance 

 of growing plants, and the opening and full-blown flowers, that will draw the atten- 

 tion of all passing by. Especially is this true during the winter season, when tlie 

 contrast is so strong between the living plants within and the dreariness without. 

 Many desire to keep plants through the winter — more than can be accommodated in 

 the limited space of the sitting-room window ; in fact, they would like to have a small 

 greenhouse, or a conservatory, only they imagine that such an institution would ba 

 very expensive, difficult to manage, and require the help of a trained gardener. 



There is a large class who could enjoy such a place, and could afford it, too, if they 

 did not suppose the difficulties too great. To such I would say that it is 7iot so hard 

 a matter to care for a small greenhouse ; there are no great mysteries connected with 

 the art of propagating and growing plants, but what any one, possessing an ardent 

 love for such, can soon learn, and know how to serve their varied wants. It is easy 

 enouffh to learn how to propagate from cuttings, but the operation requires constant 

 attention. It is not necessary to spend a term under skilled workmen, but reading and 

 practice will teach ; only the beginner will be apt to make many and sometimes costly 

 mistakes ; but experience is a good instructor. About every household there are gen- 

 erally men enough, or stout boys, to do the rough work of a greenhouse — bringing in 

 fuel, clearing the furnace, keeping up fires at night, or doing anything else needed. 

 The firing at night would not be troublesome, for with a brick furnace of sufficient 

 capacity, enough coal can be put in at bedtime to last through the coldest nights, 

 even when the mercury goes down to 28 deg. below zero, as it did out here the past 

 winter. And then, as to the daily attention required by the plants — the watering, 

 repotting, training, propagating, etc., that work could be easily enough attended to 

 by the feminine portion of the family. In fact, I know of no more pleasant or 

 healthier occupation for a woman (or man either), than working daily in a green- 

 house, with its bright sunshine, genial temperature, and cheerful surroundings of 

 beautiful plants and fragrant flowers. I regard it as a grand opening for those women 

 who are sighing for "enlarged spheres of usefulness," outside of the usual routine of 

 household duties, or other feminine occupations. 



Women can perform the duties required in growing plants in a greenhouse, whether 

 for her own enjoyment or for profit. I know this to be so, for I have seen a stock of 

 plants brought through winter, by a lady, and be in as fine and healthy condition as 

 could be desired. Among plants woman can display her fine natural taste for arrang- 

 ing and selecting the most desirable kinds, and showing them off to the best advan- 

 tage. The fine lady, with her large conservatory and paid gardener, need not conde- 

 scend to look after the management, but to all who cannot afford such a luxury, and 

 yet long for plants and flowers through all the year, I would say, build you a little 

 greenhouse and learn to take care of it yourself, and you will find it the source of the 

 greatest delight and purest enjoyment that it is possible to conceive of. 



Des Moines, Iowa. R- L- Blair. 



