52 THE PRINCIPLES OF FLORICULTURE 



A careful study of arrangement before a range is built 

 will often eliminate much unnecessary labor. Houses in 

 which potted-plants are to be grown should be near the 

 potting and soil rooms. Propagating rooms should also be 

 as near the potting room as possible. 



48. Arrangement for maximum light effects. That a 

 greenhouse has the maximum light efficiency is of great 

 economic importance, especially where flowering crops 

 are grown which require abundant light for production of 

 blooms. During late spring, summer and early fall, 

 this is of less importance than during the winter months. 

 Then cloudy weather may prevail, and even at best the 

 sun at meridian is low towards the southern horizon, and 

 it is of the utmost importance that every ray of light pos- 

 sible penetrate to the food-preparing parts of the plant. 

 Roses especially require an abundance of light; and to 

 produce first grade carnations, winter light conditions 

 should be ideal. For greatest light efficiency, it is con- 

 sidered preferable by eastern growers to have separate 

 houses of uneven-span type, and to place them so they 

 will extend from east to west. They should be far 

 enough apart so that when the sun is low in December 

 and January, shade from the ridge of the south house 

 will not fall above the foundation line of the house just 

 north. 



Preference for uneven-span houses lies in the fact that 

 in them a larger area of glass is brought more nearly at 

 right angles to the sun's rays and the light efficiency is 

 thus increased. Carrying the ridge farther to the north 

 also eliminates the possibility that shade from this will be 

 cast on the north bench, as the sun becomes higher during 

 spring months. It is essential that uneven-span houses 

 run east and west. If a given location demands that 



