HOUSES FOR CARNATION GROWING 215 



any price. With the enormous capital being invested in 

 greenhouses it behooves the investor to acquaint himself 

 thoroughly with the several merits of the different con- 

 structions and build the best, for the watchwords should be 

 not how " cheap " but how " good." 



It has been contended that the general tendency on 

 the part of the greenhouse builders has been to lighten the 

 several members at the cost of safety with the idea of keep- 

 ing down the price. Whilst this might apply to some con- 

 structions, safety first is the rule of thoroughly reputable 

 firms. The material benefit accruing from modern wide 

 houses cannot be underestimated when compared to 

 heavily constructed houses with too much ironwork, and 

 especially is this applicable in the matter of upkeep and 

 depreciation. 



The modern house shown on page 218 is of the"recon- 

 structed construction," having concrete walls and capped 

 by a cast iron sill (see illustrations). It is also built with 

 approximately 12 ft. spacing of the rafters. Any sized 

 glass can be used as in the old construction. If 16 in. wide 

 glass is desired, each bay is arranged for nine lights. If 

 20 in. lights are desired, each bay is arranged for seven 

 lights, the combined shade being less in this type of house. 

 Machine-made double thick clear glass only is used in this 

 type of house. The columns and connections are 50 per 

 cent. less than the older spacings, which are approximately 

 8 ft., and it impresses every one as being far superior in 

 design and strength in every way. The posts and rafters 

 are in one piece, bent to the pitch of the roof, the iron being 

 heated before bending and afterward allowed to anneal 

 properly. It is evident that a combined post and rafter 

 of this character is stronger than it can possibly be by 

 welding or plate connection. Where it is necessary to 



