132 



control be provided. The experimental house just completed 

 is built of hollow, concrete, cinder blocks. Cinder blocks be- 

 cause of their demonstrated low temperature transmission 

 coefificient^ (Hechler, 1927) and moderate cost appeared to be 

 adequate for the type of house required. 



The house is 12X20X10 feet high to the eaves, has gable 

 roof with open ventilator running the full length of the ridge 

 pole. A wooden ceiling insulated with a 6" layer of sawdust is 

 provided with automatic sectional dampers which can be in- 

 dependently controlled. The ceiling ventilator runs through 

 the median line, the full length of the house and is directly 

 under the ridge pole opening. Five double, six-light, sash 

 windows have been installed for convenient lighting during 

 operations and for possible experiments concerning the effect 

 of light, etc. 



Three tiers of beds each 3 feet wide, 30" apart from bottom 

 of bottom run the length of the house. The construction of 

 the beds is such that they or parts of them can be removed 

 tor purposes of cleaning, disinfecting and to make room for 

 apparatus which may be installed from time to time for certain 

 experiments. Heat is provided by two 2" steam pipes 2 feet 

 from the ground and running completely around and against 

 the walls of the house. A steam valve permits the emission 

 of live steam for the purpose of raising the vapor pressure of 

 the atmosphere. Running water is provided and electric con- 

 nections for apparatus and illumination have been installed. 



This is the first house of its kind constructed for purely 

 experimental purposes. 



Department of Botany 

 State College 



Pennsylvanl\ 



1 Hechler, F. G. Insulation of Fruit Storage Houses. Agricultural En- 

 gineering. 1927 Volume 8, No. 9, pages 249-251. 



