132 WORK UNDER GLASS 



show that in a small space it is possible, without 

 injury to their health, to accommodate many plants 

 combining the useful and edible with the decorative. 

 The secret lies in judicious feeding, ventilating, and, 

 above all, in scrupulous cleanliness. Insect pests 

 are vigilantly watched for, and prompt sponging 

 or fumigation is resorted to in order to put an end 

 to them. Experience has shown me that women 

 surpass men in these matters, chiefly because of 

 their watchful care, a sort of loving, mother in- 

 stinct which they mostly possess and which con- 

 tinually displays itself in acts of thoughtfulness. 

 When I hear the remark, " I cannot do this now, 

 for I must quickly go and put my plants to bed," 

 I know that there is love for the plants in the 

 gardener's heart, and then almost instinctively skil- 

 ful handling follows. 



There are only two other houses, and these have 

 no pipes to warm them and are but primitive in 

 construction, but in cold weather oil lamps prevent 

 the temperature from falling too low. The Vinery 

 (32 ft. by 6 ft.) was put up by a handy man 

 who cleverly arranged a row of framelights to rest 

 upon a low wooden shed. Besides the Alicant 

 vine we have in it a Niphetos rose, and the rest of 

 the space is taken up by chrysanthemum stools that 

 are waiting to have cuttings taken from them or 

 plants that are in that early stage of growth when 

 they are happiest if kept in a cool temperature. 

 The last house is the smallest one that can be built. 

 This mere toy (6 ft. by 4 ft. 6 in.) is valued because 

 it was once our only glass structure and therefore 

 acts as a reminder of progress achieved. In it 



