70 THE PRINCIPLES OF FLORICULTURE 



strength of the sash-bars, metal eave-plates are unneces- 

 sary, and curved glass is used at the eaves, thereby in- 

 creasing the light efficiency. 



METHODS OF BUILDING 



59. Grading. Having decided on the site and the type 

 of house, the next thing to be done preparatory to building 

 is to drain and grade the land. The surface soil should 

 be plowed and all loam removed with horses and scrapers, 

 for this loam makes valuable material for a compost heap 

 and may be used later in interior beds. This can usually 

 be accomplished more easily and cheaply before the 

 foundations are laid, unless it is necessary to make a deep 

 fill. Even then, if the interior of the houses require 

 considerable filling in preparation for foundations for 

 beds, this should certainly be done first. 



If much filling is to be done in preparation for the beds 

 and benches, as is often the case in uneven-span houses, 

 this filling should be of a coarse, gravelly nature that 

 drainage may be perfect. Often it is necessary to haul this 

 material from some distance. After rough grading has been 

 done, all top grading is left until the range is completed. 



60. Foundations. After grading so that the land is 

 comparatively level but with sufficient slope so that all 

 surface water will be carried away from the house, the next 

 step is to excavate a trench for foundations. The width of 

 this trench will vary with the size of the house and the 

 width of the foundations required. As a rule, for large 

 houses, the foundations are rarely less than eighteen inches 

 thick. The trench, however, must be much wider to 

 facilitate placing the forms in position. A width of at 

 least three feet will be required (Fig. 10, upper). The 



