66 MY TEN-ROD FARM; 



running the whole length of the building. Between the 

 walk and the south wall was a long table containing plants 

 in pots. 



On the other side and against the north wall was a bank 

 of wooden steps rising like broad stairs almost to the roof. 

 This, also, was covered with plants in pots. Along the path 

 ran a number of iron pipes. These, I guessed, were for 

 heating the building in winter. After looking about a short 

 time, and wondering at the great strength and weight of the 

 building, I found the proprietor, and ventured to ask the 

 cost of such a structure. " Ten thousand dollars, and not 

 a cent less." I did not stay to put any more questions. 

 That settled the whole matter for me. I must not even 

 dream of greenhouses. But as long as I had come to 

 Massawatamie I ventured to glance at the next place, al- 

 though quite sure I could never indulge in building. This 

 place, likewise, had large lean-to houses, and, in addition, a 

 house with two glass roofs, one against the other. This, I 

 learned, was called a span-roof. Inside, I found two walks, 

 one on each side, with the steps, or stage, placed in the mid- 

 dle, and following the line of the roof. And here was an- 

 other trouble for poor me. How could I ever get up and 

 down those steep steps to cut the flowers or water and tend the 

 plants ? I could not do it. It was wholly out of the ques- 

 tion. The cost of such a house, I was told, was thirty 

 dollars a running foot. That is, if the house was fifty feet 

 long, it would cost fifteen hundred dollars, without the heat- 



