At least some of the space in the greenhouse may be utilized for vegetables. Side bench planted with lettuce and cauliflower 



Food From the Greenhouse This Winter w *L craig 



CONSTANT SUPPLY OF FRESH VEGETABLES TILL SPRING COMES ROUND AGAIN- 



IN A COOL CONSERVATORY 



-WHAT CAN EVEN BE DONE 



NOT ONLY must we of America 

 plant bigger acreages but we must 

 learn to crop them more intensively. 

 To assist in food production (and I am 

 referring now more particularly to vegetables) 

 greater use must be made of greenhouses; we 

 are aware that commercially the growing of 

 lettuces, cucumbers, tomatoes, beets, radishes 

 and one or two other vegetables is an important 

 industry; we also know that on the majority of 

 the larger private estates a greater area will 

 probably be devoted to them the coming 

 season, but are there not many thousands of 



Tomatoes demand a higher temperature than the ordinary 

 vegetables and hand pollination 



amateurs, who either have or could afford to 

 have a greenhouse of modest dimensions which 

 could be devoted to winter or spring vegeta- 

 bles, and which could at the same time be 

 utilized to start vegetable and flower plants for 

 the garden? 



When traveling through Great Britain, 

 Americans are impressed by the numerous 

 small greenhouses owned by suburbanite com- 

 muters, to say nothing of those to be found 

 about the allotment gardens and owned by 

 working men. After three years of war few of 

 these greenhouses are closed and in fact, the gov- 

 ernment looks with disfavor on any thought 

 of reducing the greenhouse interest, realizing 

 that the structures can be utilized to greatly 

 augment food supplies. Those in our own 

 country who operate greenhouses should 

 continue to do so, and so increase the output 

 of useful food crops and not from false ideas of 

 "economy" or "patriotic" reasons tell us that 

 they purpose to "shut down for the duration 

 of the war!" 



War time is the time to produce all possible 

 vegetables from under glass and not a few 

 people are now building greenhouses adaptable 

 to their culture, and which can later on be 

 utilized for flowers. In time of war we should 

 prepare for peace, and a greenhouse built now 

 will prove a good investment. The owner of a 

 greenhouse has manifold advantages over the 

 man who has to start plants in the home or 

 even in a cold frame. Plants can be grown 

 earlier and of a better quality, ensuring earlier 

 returns. 



The type of house must depend on the 

 means of the owner. An even span structure 

 is usually the most economical and practical. 

 Greenhouse builders are always ready to build 

 houses which will not prove a blot on the land- 

 scape, which can be easily and economically 



97 



heated and cared for, and which will prove a 

 source of pleasure to the owner. 



CROPS THAT COMBINE 



But what crops can the ordinary person 

 grow in a greenhouse? They are many, but 

 we will look only to the more important. A 

 few (such as string beans, tomatoes, and cu- 

 cumbers) require a minimum temperature of 

 58 degrees to 60 degrees in winter and unless a 

 special warm division is reserved in the house 

 it is much better to grow spring or early- 

 summer crops of these. Vegetables needing 



Use the space under the bench for forcing seakale rhubarb, 

 asparagus, etc. 



