CHAPTER IX 

 BEDS, BENCHES AND WALKS 



In the earlier greenhouses, plants were al- 

 most always grown on raised benches. This 

 was partly for the convenience of the grow- 

 er and partly because the houses were almost 

 always erected with high, solid side walls 

 and it was necessary, in order to secure satis- 

 factory growth, to bring the plants close to 

 the glass roof. In modern houses, when all 

 or part of the side walls are of glass, raised 

 benches are not so necessary, and are very 

 commonly dispensed with and the plants 

 grown directly in the soil which forms the 

 floor. This is particularly true when vege- 

 tables such as lettuce, tomatoes or cucum- 

 bers are grown. 



Florists, as a rule, have been loth to give 

 up the use of benches and present the follow- 

 ing arguments in their favor, (i) It is 

 more convenient to care for plants when 

 grown on raised benches than when grown 

 on the ground. (2) Benches make possible 



