The Pleasures of a Small Greenhouse 217 



has been properly far-sighted there will be a "continuous performance," 

 however limited the stage may be, until the returning heat of the summer 

 renews the necessity of his attention being directed outside again. 



To descend to more personal and practical details, my experience is 

 that the man who has to run his own little greenhouse, and who has 

 any sort of outside garden, would better not try to keep both going at 

 full steam at the same time, unless he has an abundance of leisure time 

 at his disposal. Somehow, too, there is not the attraction about the 

 indoor growing of plants when everything is flourishing m the less- 

 confined and healthier surroundings of the garden bed. Give your time 

 to the greenhouse m the winter half, and to the outdoor life for the 

 remainder of the year. 



However, when one's "glass" is part of the house, and would look very 

 forlorn if empty, a fair showing can be made with a few begonias, amaryllis, 

 and foliage plants which do not love the exposure of the open, and which with 

 sufficient shading and sprinkling will not suffer from the heat, as so many 

 other greenhouse pets do. Some people use fancy-leaved caladiums to make 

 a summer display indoors at a small cost in time and trouble. The umbrella 

 plant {Cy perns alternifolins) is much used for this purpose. If there is a 

 blank wall to be covered, Ficiis pwmila will be found excellent. It looks 

 well both summer and winter, and requires little care. 



My own little oasis opens directly out of the dining-room, and is heated 

 by steam from the common furnace. I have deduced a few simple axioms 

 for its successful operation. 



Don't let green fly, mealy-bug, or scale go too long; smoke or spray 

 when at all plentiful. 



Don't have the place too hot; give plenty of air on every possible 

 occasion. 



Don't try to grow rare novelties ; stick to robust, standard things that 

 will not require coddling. 



Don't try to grow palms and pansies under the same conditions; one 

 or the other, if not both, will prove a failure. The things that do best with 

 VTiQ are those that every florist sells as "house plants," and which are "the 

 survival of the fittest." 



Lastly, retire to your greenhouse when you have an attack of "the 

 blues"; it will be the better for every one concerned. There is nothing 

 like a greenhouse to keep one cheerful. 



