204 HOME FLORICULTURE 



who have given the matter little thought and no inves- 

 tigation, it is equally true that it cannot be built for a 

 song. But one thing I am quite sure of: that many 

 persons who often express a wish that they had a 

 place expressly for plants spend more money foolishly 

 in the course of a year than it would cost to build a 

 very good greenhouse. Perhaps I ought not to say 

 foolishly, but what I mean is, that money is expended 

 unnecessarily. If a greenhouse were determined on, 

 money enough might be saved to build it, while with- 

 out this plan in view, the money required would 

 doubtless be spent in ways from which no visible 

 benefit would be seen at the end of the year. A little 

 curtailing of expenses would do the work. If persons 

 fond of flowers only knew the great amount of pleasure 

 to be derived from such a house, well stocked with 

 plants, they would be willing to economize in all ways 

 to secure one. It will be found to be the pleasantest 

 part of the home, and there is health in it, and a 

 source of education for the children. I wish those 

 who have window collections which bid fair to outgrow 

 their present quarters would think about this matter 

 and see if it is not possible to give the plants a room 

 by themselves. Both plants and plant owners would 

 appreciate it. 



In building, it pays to build well. When we have 

 to make provision for not only a possible but a prob- 

 able thirty-degree-below-zero spell of weather, no ordi- 

 nary, cheaply built wall will keep out the cold, and 

 our greenhouses must be built with a view to doing 

 this. I am sorry that I cannot tell those who ask me 

 for estimates of cheap structures that a house which 

 will answer all purposes can be built for twenty-five 

 dollars, or fifty dollars, or one hundred dollars, fully 

 equipped for work, for I would be very glad to see 

 such a house attached to every home where there i« 



