AUTOMATIC VENTILATION IN PRIVATE CONSERVATORIES 



ROBT. \V. KING, C. E., TORONTO, OXT. 



''1'^ TIE practicability of automatic ventila- 

 1 lion in private conservatories was 

 raised a few years ago. II was thought 

 that it would be decidedly advantageous, 

 but it was doubtful whether the average gar- 

 dener would have sufficient mechanical in- 

 telligence to care for the machines. The 

 experiment has been tried with success dur- 

 ing the last two or three years. 



The pioneer experiment is particularly in- 

 teresting front the fact that there is, first 

 what may be termed an ordinary greenhouse 

 on a miniature scale in wihich the heat is 

 controlled by hand valves in the usual way, 

 with the ventilation automatic; secondly, 

 there is a show conservatory, apart from the 

 greenhouses, connected w'ith and opening 

 into the residence in which plants gro'wn in 

 the greenhouse are displayed when in bloom. 

 In this apartment the ventilation is controlled 

 by nand. while the heating pipes are con- 

 trolled automatically. 



In fitting out this establishment cost was 

 a secondary consideratioii. the main object 

 being to obtain what was best for the pur- 

 pose even though subject to some experi- 

 mental expense. Before proceeding to fur- 

 ther describe this greenhouse it may be in- 

 teresting to refer to the way its present ar- 

 rangements were brought about. 



As in all such cases an architect was first 

 employed. When it comes to the designing 

 of a common greenhouse in which fbloom 

 can be grown satisfactorily, the ordinarv 

 architect usually exhibits himself completelv 

 at sea. In the instance referred to the build- 

 ing itself was not so bad. though the wooden 

 wall plates surmounted by heavy, wooden 

 mullions, carrying wooden gutters equally 

 weighty, and a double row of purlin sup- 

 ports, five feet centers, might with advant- 

 age have been replaced by some of the more 

 modern light iron or steel construction. 

 When it came to the erecting of the intern"] 

 arrangements the gardener, who probablv 



had never been consulted unless in some 

 high handed way, objected, and at his re- 

 (juest the hand ventilation system that had 

 been contracted for was replaced b\' auto- 

 matics. 



This greenhouse is 60 feet long by 19 feet 

 wide, running north and south. This 

 enables ventilation on both sides of the roof 

 to be successfully used during winter 

 months. When houses run east and west, 

 and double ventilation is used, it is necessary 

 in winter to disconnect shutters on the north 

 side. 



The house is divided into three compart- 

 ments for the puqjose of running different 

 temperatures and degrees of ventilation. 

 The first compartment is used for orchids, 

 carnations, and bedding plants. This com- 

 partment is 24 feet long, separately con- 

 trolled by automatic ventilation on both 

 sides of the ridge. The ventilating shut- 

 ters are hinged at the headers, the spacing 

 being so arranged that the shutters on oppo- 

 site sides of the ridge are not opposite one 

 another. This compartment has also side 

 ventilation on both sides and some base 

 ventilation under the benches. The second 

 compartment is used for forcing general 

 conservatory stock, bulbs, etc. Its ventila- 

 tion is similar to the first. 



The third compartment, or rose house, is 

 15 feet in length, from \vhich is deducted a 

 liaeral allo^wance for pathways and side 

 benches, on which are grown cinerarias and 

 mnnerous other plants. The rose beds 

 consist of two central, modern, solid tile beds 

 each nine feet in length by five feet in width. 

 The roses grown are American Beauties, 

 Brides and Bridesmaid. This compart- 

 ment has automatic double ventilation at the 

 roof, no other ventilation being used. It has 

 its own special machine. 



The gardener does his work in a very 

 systematic way. He has his books of refer- 

 ence alwavs at hand and is more than a sub-' 



