84 THE PRINCIPLES OF FLORICULTURE 



ventilators, it is often essential that he know how much 

 air he has on the houses. * This is determined by means of 

 a leaded weight tied to a string which falls beside one of 

 the iron columns. On this column there is marked a 

 graded scale which indicates the number of inches the 

 ventilators are open. 



66. Interior equipment. The benches or beds vary 

 according to the crops grown. In modern ranges where 

 many potted plants are grown, there is now a preference 

 for concrete benches. Carnations grow better in benches 

 built of wood, although excellent blooms have been pro- 

 duced in concrete benches. A solid concrete bed with tile 

 bottoms also produces excellent results. Roses, violets 

 and sweet peas are usually grown in solid beds with con- 

 crete or board sides. 



Benches and beds are not placed directly against the 

 wall in the most modern ranges, for there the atmospheric 

 conditions are not as favorable for plant growth. Walks 

 are usually made along the sides. The width of benches 

 and beds varies with different crops, but they are rarely 

 over five feet wide, that being a convenient width for 

 working. Some rose-growers prefer to have the beds but 

 three feet wide, accommodating but three rows of plants, 

 as it has been observed that the plants in the interior of 

 beds are not as productive as those on the outside. 



The width of walks varies in different ranges. Much 

 depends on the use which is to be made of them. If 

 the walks are to be used as a thoroughfare, they should be 

 at least two feet wide, but if used simply for the care of 

 crops, walks fifteen or eighteen inches wide are sufficient. 

 Usually in large ranges the center walk and outside walks 

 are wider than the others. 



Water pipes should be conveniently arranged, with 



