The Pleasures of a Small Greenhouse 221 



omitted to get up on two or three occasions, and, of course, those were the 

 nights when the thermometer dropped out of sight. I found nearly ail 

 my plants frozen, and I came to the conclusion that this would not do. 

 Now I keep the greenhouse going until very cold weather comes, when I 

 remove the plants into the house, and in early spring I take them back 

 again to the greenhouse. 



When stocking the greenhouse I had visions of some of the fine plants 

 which we see pictured in the catalogues, and I went in for a most miscellaneous 

 assortment, including chrysanthemums, roses, carnations, orchids, palms, 

 ferns, etc. I soon found, by bitter experience, that to grow all these plants 

 successfully different temperatures were required. I succeeded in killing 

 ofT a good deal of my first stock by trying one temperature after another. 

 Finally I made up my mind that I would have to discard those plants which 

 required a high temperature. 



One year I grew nearly all chrysanthemums and did very well with them, 

 but gave them up, as I found that they demanded more time and attention 

 than a busy amateur could give. 



I have now got down to the commoner plants, such as fuchsias, begonias, 

 geraniums, abutilons, primulas, cyclamens, and a few palms. I find that 

 these all thrive pretty well in the same temperature, and there is nearly 

 always something in bloom. Such plants as these, too, are more easily 

 placed to advantage around the house in winter. 



On the whole, I would not like to give up my greenhouse. By its aid I 

 am enabled to raise flower and vegetable plants for my garden in the spring. 

 I keep it fairly attractive in the summer and fall, and in the winter I can 

 beautify my house with the plants taken from it. 



IV. A Suburban Experience 



By J. N. Gerard 



An amateur can readily dispense with most tools rather than with 

 a greenhouse. If his taste for growing things is catholic, it becomes 

 a necessity; and if he collects only so-called "hardy" plants, it 

 is scarcely less a most valuable adjunct to his garden. With a winter of 

 practically seven months, a man without shelter for plants misses more 

 than half his pleasure in seeing things grow. I say "a man" advisedly; a 



