THE COLD GREENHOUSE 351 



also, the advantage of being the least costly as to furniture, 

 for a central bed and borders at the sides of a span-roofed 

 house may take the place of stage and benches. Here Tea- 

 scented, hybrid China, and Noisette Roses of choicest kinds, 

 planted out, will give endless pleasure to its owner and will 

 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 eThe plants we wish to grow are 

 children of liberty and com 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 greenhouse 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 mis- 

 chief 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 



