74 A Greenhouse for a Short Purse. 



Several years ago, the writer built a miniature greenhouse, at a cost 

 of but forty-five dollars, which fulfilled all the conditions required, and 

 was never without bloom from September until May. A spot was 

 chosen sloping gently south and east, and protected by a grove from 

 northern winds. An excavation was made, twelve by ten feet, and five 

 feet deep, in hard, diy clay. Stout posts, four on each side, and two at 

 the ends, kept apart inner and outer sheaihings of plank, which extended 

 three feet out of the ground at the sides, and six at the ends, or gables. 

 The west and north sides were solid, filled in with dry earth, which 

 was used between the plankings on all sides ; on the east a double 

 window was cut, wath swinging sash, each of six panes. The doors 

 at the south were cut to fit the gable exactly, opening right and left, 

 with glass let in ; the roof was of eight by ten glass, in narrow slips of 

 wood that sei-ved both as rafters and sash, reaching from the walls to 

 the ridge-pole, the glass lapping lightly, and puttied at the sides, next 

 the wood. The ridge-pole was triangular, fitting the sides, but with 

 perforations through its entire length for ventilation ; on this a cap of 

 wood ran the whole length, like an inverted gutter, to be used in bad 

 weather, but always taken oft' on fair days. Two slips in the roof 

 were on hinges, to be thrown back for more perfect ventilation, and 

 for syringing. The sides on the north, east, and west, above ground, 

 were banked up to the windows with earth, and turfed, leaving the 

 south open to the sun, and to the movement of the doors, playing free 

 to the ground. This was important, for when the sun was low, in dead 

 winter, it could thus strike freely through to eveiy corner, drying up all 

 damp, and preventing mould. 



The interior was supplied with shelves, and an inclined stage at the 

 north end, in front of which was a plain table ; the bottom was floored 

 with plank, the steps led from the right door, and under the left hung 

 watering-pot, trowel, scissors, and tools generally. When very cold 

 nights threatened, a cover of the warm country-nvidc cow-hair cloth 

 was thrown over, while it was protected from too great heats by a coat 

 of whitewash on the glass. Within, everything received the same wash, 

 in which flowers of sulphur was mixed. The entire cost, as stated be- 

 fore, was only forty-five dollars. 



