92 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



though admirably adapted as conservatories and for the dis- 

 play of plants, are by no means as favorable for the growth 

 of most varieties as the low and inexpensive houses which 

 are so common among us. 



Turning now from structures designed for ornament and 

 display, and remembering the limit of time allotted to me, I 

 will contine myself to such forms as I regard as best suited 

 for winter-gardening, for growth and productiveness rather 

 than for display. Within this limit, it will yet be necessary 

 to be concise and to omit many details. To commence with 

 the lowest form of glass structure, the most common and 

 still regarded as indispensable, is the frame. Obviously it is 

 well adapted for the simple winter protection of many tender 

 plants ; also for the late fall and early spring culture of cold- 

 blooded vegetables and plants, such as lettuce, radishes, 

 violets, and other plants which require a cool temperature and 

 nearness to the glass. The advantages of the frame consist 

 in the economy of construction, the nearness of the plants to 

 the glass, and the small space required to be heated, all of 

 which can be used for plant-culture, inasmuch as walks and 

 head-room are not provided. These advantages are sufficiently 

 important to warrant the continued use of frames for certain 

 purposes, such as winter protection and early spring market- 

 gardening. For family use, where it is desirable to start a 

 small amount of seeds and help forward early vegetables, the 

 ordinary hot-bed, heated by fermenting manure, will be found 

 to be the cheapest and most satisfactory method. But for 

 winter growth, frames are very unsatisfactory, even for 

 vegetables. First, the sashes are so nearly horizontal, that 

 when the sun runs low, its rays must strike the glass very 

 obliquely. Consequently, a very material percentage of the 

 sun's rays is deflected, causing an average loss of one-third 

 to one-half of the light and heat, varying according to the 

 pitch of the sash. This is a material loss, especially at the 

 season of shortest days and severest cold. Then the difficulty 

 of getting access to the crops in severe weather is almost an 

 insuperable objection. The cost of lifting and managing the 

 sashes, for the purpose of access, of ventilation and of 

 watering, is also serious. The ordinary method of heating 

 by fermenting material, of which horse-manure is by far the 



