CHAPTER XXI 



Greenhouses, Hotbeds and Frames 



IF we but appreciated a greenhouse at its true value, and knew the 

 pleasiffe as well as the profit that can be derived from the posses- 

 sion of even a small one, there would be many more erected. It 

 is a standing wonder that in a country so wealthy as ours there should 

 be so few greenhouses attached to the residences of suburban and rural 

 homes. Nor can we help noticing that hundreds of dollars will be 

 spent readily on automobiles by even the moderately well-to-do, 

 while the quieter joys of the garden and greenhouse are overlooked. 

 Yet a greenhouse of moderate dimensions, 12ft. long by 8ft. wide, 

 can be had for $250, and its upkeep will be nothing Uke so much as 

 for an automobile. 



So confident are we as to the pleasure derivable from the green- 

 house, especially in the cold Winter months and in the Spring time 

 before the groimd is warm and dry out of doors, that we most heartily 

 urge its consideration on the readers of The Garden Guide. 



We merely wish to call attention in this place to the advantages 

 of such a house. A succession of flowers can be had during the Winter 

 at small cost, either by Ufting the Geraniums from out-of-doors in the 

 Autumn and potting them up, as well as Salvias and some other 

 Summer flowering plants, or by sowing little batches of seeds, or 

 planting bulbs and bringing these on graduaUy. We aU know how 

 difiBcuIt it is to make a success of Dutch bulbs in the ordinary 

 dwelling house, owing to the dryness of the atmosphere and the 

 fluctuation of temperatures. In a greenhouse these condition, can be 

 regulated to suit the plants. 



Among other subjects that can be grown are Chrysanthemums, 

 Ferns, Azaleas, Forgetmenots, Palms, Primroses, Cyclamen, Schizan- 

 thus (sometimes called Poor Man's Orchid), Pansies, Sweet Alyssum, 

 and a great variety of other stock. One can frequently obtain' a slip 

 or a seedling from a friend, and in this way enrich one's little coUection. 

 There Eire many plants also that can be raised from seed. 



Little cultural reminders are pubUshed in the seed catalogs, or as 

 a cultural guide Oliver's "Plant Culture" is recommended. 



There are many hardy plants that are usuaUy grown in the rock 

 garden that can be placed in what are called flower pans, that is, 

 receptacles as wide as a 5-in., 6-in., or 7-in. pot, but only 3-in. or 4-in. 



217 



