206 ANNUAL EEPORT 



light was not so much of a necessity as it is now. Later on, a 

 short slanting roof was added, a style which could be seen in old 

 country places, in Europe, only fifteen or twenty years ago; but 

 the increasing demand for flowers and fruits during winter, made 

 it necessary for the culivator to devise other structures more 

 adapted for cultivation of the desired plants. The shape of green- 

 houses was then altered, the high standing windows were made 

 lower, and it was found that blooming and soft wooded plants did 

 best when placed as near the glass as possible, and the slanting 

 roof was made longer to give more light, and to admit as much 

 sunlight as possible. 



Usually the houses were what is termed ; 'lean-to" houses, or the 

 slanting roof leaning against a high back wall. Such houses were 

 used a good deal for forcing fruits, as well as flowers, grapes, 

 peaches, apricots, figs, pineapples and strawberries being mostly 

 grown. For heating, flues built of brick were introduced and in 

 the fruit houses, trenches were fiilled with fresh manure which 

 gave heat ana moisture enough to swell the buds and afterwards 

 the flues were used. Such houses are use 1 a good deal yet in the 

 Northern part of Europe with good success. 



The taste for plants and flowers still increasing, this kind of 

 house did not long fill the bill. 80 houses with a glass roof on 

 both sides were constructed, and hot water was introduced for 

 heating. Although hot water was vastly superior t"> flues, it did 

 not give entire satisfaction, especially in large establishments 

 where many boilers were needed. So something better was looked 

 for. Subsequently steam was introduced — something like ten 

 years ago — and after many failures it is now recognized as the 

 best medium for heating greenhouses— especially so, for large es- 

 tablishments. The advantage steam has over the hot water sys- 

 tem is the ease with which it can be handled; the temperature in 

 the houses can be raised or lowered with but little trouble, and 

 one good boiler can do the work of four or five hot water boilers 

 which means time saved for the fireman. The two houses may be 

 built of any desired length— in some instances they have been 

 built 250 feet long. While with the hot water system they cannot 

 much exceed 70 feet iu length in order to have good circulation. 



The best style of houses for all purposes, now built are three- 

 quarter lean-to houses (so-called) being usually from 18 to 25 feet 

 in width, the long side facing South, with only 6 to 8 feet glass 

 roof facing North. 



Such houses as are just mentioned, are now taking the place of 

 hotbeds; the same as has been said about flowers, being also true 

 about vegetables aud fruits. Lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, etc., 

 etc., are, with the increasing wealth of the population, fast becom- 

 ing necessities, for a good table, even in winter time. 



The old style of hotbeds made from stable manure are so trou- 

 blesome, and pait of the winter impossible, to handle, that the in- 

 troduction of houses for vegetable forcing will soon be universal. 

 As yet I believe only lettuce, cucumbers and radishes have been 

 grown here in such houses, but the field is open for the introduc- 



