CHAPTER VII 
PROPAGATING-HOUSE 
In the erection of a propagating-house, several thing's 
have to be taken into consideration, for, without a suit- 
able house, propagation in many instances becomes a 
very difficult matter. The plan shown in the illustration 
combines several improvements. Heat, moisture, and 
light are essential conditions in propagation. Any kind 
of small house may easily be transformed into a propa- 
gating-house at a very small cost, provided heat can be 
obtained when wanted; but in the erection of a new 
house the first consideration must be to find a suitable 
ground through which water will drain easily. If this 
cannot be obtained, it would be advisable to turn the 
soil over to a depth of 3 or 4 feet and to put in good 
drainage. The situation must also be considered. It is 
a good plan to build the house from north to south; the 
east side will get the sun in the morning, and the west 
side in the afternoon, while the solar influence will be 
equally distributed in the middle of the day. The door 
should be made on the south end, and the boiler fixed at 
the north end. If the house is to stand by itself, it will 
be preferable to build it partly sunk in the ground, so 
that it will not be quickly affected by atmospheric 
changes; but if it has to be combined with another 
group of houses, it will if possible be advisable to place 
it between two warm ones. 
Side walls should be built with bricks. Wood only 
73 
