The Pleasures of a Small Greenhouse 233 



VIII. The Cost of a Greenhouse 



By Maida Maitland 



A case where it paid to add a conservatory to a rented house 



A LITTLE more than a year ago, as we stood gazing out on our first 

 garden, the thought of the chilly winds and frosts of winter sweeping 

 away the wealth of bloom and leaving things desolate filled us with 

 feelings of keen regret. 



"Why not build a small conservatory and carry on our gardening 

 through the winter?" I temptmgly suggested. 



"I am afraid the cost is away beyond our means," was the cautious 

 man's reply. 



"We can at least get prices and consult our bank-book," the tempter 

 ventured. 



The man's eyes brightened as a vision of roses, carnations, and bright 

 flowers blooming amid the snows of a Canadian winter rose to his mind 



Landlord, plumbers and contractors were interviewed, and the proposi- 

 tion stood thus : The landlord agreed to allow us to buikl a conservatory, 

 to become his property on our removal from his house. The house was 

 to be ours for five years, and forever if we wanted it. A conservatory ten 

 by sixteen, built of best material, would cost $150. 



The woman sat back with disappointment plainly visible on her face, 

 for this to her seemed too large an outlay to spend on a house not their own. 



"Let us see, now," said the business man. "Spread over five years, 

 $150 would increase our rent exactly $2.50 per month, and if we remained 

 ten years it would be $1.25." 



"Then if that is all, we'll have our greenhouse!" was the woman's 

 joyous reply, "for by your figuring it just amounts to our cream bill for 

 the month." 



In three weeks the work was completed, and there was an air of excite- 

 ment about the place as the plants began to arrive. A good space was 

 set aside for carnations; these were benched, likewise the roses. Down 

 the center we placed a rack with three shelves, decreasing in width as it 

 ascended. The top shelf was built like a window-box, only wider, and 

 around both sides our choicest vines were planted, but so arranged as not to 

 interfere with the shelves beneath. Around the other two sides of the room 



