182 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



rarely be without some fair blooms to reward his care ; but 

 space may also be allowed for pots of flowering bulbs to be 

 brought in from outdoor quarters during winter and early 

 spring or, in late autumn, groups of Chrysanthemums, when 

 Roses are scarce. Or the unheated greenhouse may be used 

 as an Alpine garden. The rarest gems of the mountain, 

 Soldanella and Saxifrage and Gentian, even Eritrichium 

 nanum itself, that sore puzzle to Alpine lovers, strangely 

 enough, seem to find in the shelter of glass some amends for 

 the snow covering they have lost, and may here be grown 

 with rare success. In fact, there is a wide range even that of 

 the Temperate Zone where we may wander in search of 

 suitable plants, but we must take care that our footsteps do 

 not trespass even on the verge of the Tropics, or we may 

 court failure. 



Two important points of structure amongst many may be 

 just touched upon. These are ventilation and shading. The 

 plants we wish to grow are children of liberty and come from 

 the open plain, the breezy hillside, or the rocky height. 

 Plenty of fresh air, but without cross-currents, is essential to 

 their well doing. Therefore, take care that the cold green- 

 house be amply provided with ventilators which can be 

 opened or shut according to the way of the wind. Shading 

 is of scarcely less importance, but in nine cases out of ten is 

 missing altogether. It often happens that bright sunshine 

 treads close on the steps of a hard frost. If it fall on frozen 

 foliage under glass, the most serious mischief follows. Should 

 it be possible to arrange an outside covering of felt on rollers 

 protected by a ridge to be used in case of need, so much the 

 better. It will make all snug in severe weather. But in any 

 case, do not neglect to have inside blinds of some sort, not 

 only to tone down the too fervid rays of the summer sun, but 

 no less to prevent the winter scalding of frozen plants. 



The merits of an unheated plant-house are manifold, for 

 they include economy in working, freedom from anxious care 

 and labour of heating, and a vast choice both of beautiful 

 plants and of methods in using them; but its management, 

 perhaps more than of most glass-houses, is a matter of study 

 and forethought. Study, that one may know what to grow 

 and how to grow it ; forethought, to prepare early in the year 

 the plants one wishes to find in flower before its close, but he 

 who thinks in due season and acts upon his thoughts will not 

 regret the time nor find it wasted, that has been spent in the 

 genial atmosphere of an unheated greenhouse. [The list of 

 plants for the cold greenhouse recommended by "K.L.D." 

 is given in the chart.] 



