CHAPTER III 



Style of House and Heating 



The Sweet Pea house must be in an open and sunny 

 position, sheltered, if possible, from winds. It should be 

 kept in mind, however, that contiguity to low hills may 

 result in trouble with the chimney stack, owing to down 

 drafts. The size and number of the houses will naturally 

 be determined by the capital the grower has to expend upon 

 them. A florist can make a profitable income from the 

 crops grown in a couple of span houses 20 ft. x 120 ft. or 

 better, 30 ft. x 130 ft., taken in conjunction with, say, 

 from half to one acre of land surrounding them. Provision 

 must also be made for a service house, and of course for 

 small houses or frames that can be used as propagators and 

 feeders for the main house. Beneath the service house 

 there should be a clean cellar and packing room for the 

 cut flowers, or this can be attached on the same level as 

 the plant houses; likewise, provision should be made for 

 the water supply and for a manure tank. These, however, 

 might be at some distance away. 



If the house runs east to west (which is best), the rows 

 will run lengthwise. In the larger houses, however, it 

 does not matter so much in what direction the house runs, 

 for the shadows caused by the roof members are so dif- 

 fused as to be rendered almost negligible. Wooden houses 

 are slightly cheaper at the first cost than those of iron or 

 pipe construction, but where possible, the latter should be 

 preferred. 



