HOUSES. 



CHAPTER III. 



CONSTRUCTION OF HOUSES AND FRAMES. 



CONSTRUCTION OF HOUSES. 

 Probably more makeshifts in the way of 

 houses for growing violets have been used in this 

 country than for any other crop. The evolution 

 of this part of the work has been exceptionally 

 slow, so that it is difficult to find at this time a 

 thoroughly modern establishment in every way. 

 Ordinary cold frames were first used; then in 

 order to get at the plants in bad weather a pit 

 was made so as to obtain head room and still 

 utilize the sash and keep the plants near the glass. 

 Gradually growers began to get their plants above 

 ground and to increase the amount of head room 

 and air space by raising the sash above the beds. 

 Many houses are still made on this plan, while a 

 comparatively few are built with stationary sash 

 bars and permanent glass roof. There are no 

 special advantages in making a house of sash, 

 except in certain cases, which will be mentioned 

 later. Such houses cannot be made wind or 

 water-tight, and as a rule are so full of wood as to 

 be unnecessarily dark. When it was considered 

 necessary to take the glass off in summer, sashes, 



