80 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCLETY. 



that as a business of any dimensions or interest in this couutiy it 

 dates since the close of the civil war. It is true that previous to 

 this date there were numerous elaborate private conservatories 

 and extensive ranges of glass for commercial purposes, but mostly 

 representing in style and detail the crude and inexperienced ideas 

 of architects and carpenters. These buildings were generally 

 unsightly in appearance, impracticable for the care and growth of 

 plants, often very expensive to build, and by reason of their 

 defective and improper details, very perishable and costly to keep 

 in repair. 



The evolution in greenhouse architecture and construction 

 during the past thirty years has been remarkable. Probably in no 

 branch of building in this country has greater progress been made. 

 Commencing with structures for conservatory work, modeled and 

 shaped like huge bird cages, and in construction clumsy and inar- 

 tistic to a degree, without a pretense of adaptation to plant life — 

 aud, for florists' and amateurs' use, heavy frames covered with 

 clumsy sash and small cheap glass — we now have conservatories 

 and greenhouses which in artistic appearance add greatly to the 

 interest and attractions of the best kept private grounds aud 

 public parks ; while iu lightness of construction, durability, and 

 adaptation to their various purposes they have become one of the 

 most inexpensive and satisfactory additions which can be made to 

 a country home or city residence. 



It is estimated that there are at the present time over six thou- 

 sand florists in the United States, aud about ten times as many 

 private greenhouses as there are florists' establishments. Estimat- 

 ing the florists' houses to be worth $7,500 each, and those on 

 private places the average sum of $4,000 each, we have a total 

 invested in glass of not less than $285,000,000. These figures 

 are no doubt considerably less than the actual amount so invested. 



The progress which has been made in greenhouse building has 

 been chiefly along the following lines : 



1st. ]\Iore artistic designs and adaptation to location. 



2d. Better arrangement of plans for light, ventilation, and 

 heating. 



3d. Greater economy in construction and durability. 



4th. General adaptation to the growth and exliibition of plants. 



Selection of Plans. — To those proposing to erect a conserva- 

 tory or greenhouse for a private place, as an attachment to a 



