The Greenhouse That Isn't Heated W B !L^ IG 



MAY BE EXPENSIVE ECONOMY- 



-PROFITABLE CROPS THAT CAN BE GROWN UNDER GLASS WITHOUT FUEL- 

 ING THE FOOD SITUATION 



-HELP- 



COAL scarcity, to say nothing of the 

 possible price, is a present menace 

 to the gardener this year. It is a 

 big problem what to do with the 

 greenhouse. Shall it be operated regardless 

 of cost? Can it be started and the risk taken 

 of not being able to get an adequate supply 

 of fuel? But withal the case is not so 

 alarming as it was only a few years ago. 

 During that period very few greenhouses 

 actually were closed down in the winter and 

 where coal was not available cord wood 

 was used for many months to keep frames 

 running. 



As a plain matter of practical common sense 

 the closing down of the greenhouse should be 

 looked at as a very serious solution of the prob- 

 lem. Closing down has many and co'stly dis- 

 advantages. A greenhouse kept in operation 

 and kept heated during the winter comes 

 through the cold weather in better condition 

 than one that is left alone, unless it is elabor- 

 ately protected by wire screens or board 

 shutters laid over the roof. In the neglected 

 house frost within will heave the brick piers 

 supporting the pipes which ordinarily are put 

 up with very little foundation. ' The heaving 

 tends to throw pipes out of plumb and to 

 "start" the joints. The resultant leaks are 

 often costly to stop. 



In the event of the greenhouse being closed 

 for the winter it is advisable to protect the 

 piers with a covering of straw, hay, or dry 

 leaves; and indeed to lay this covering over the 

 entire floor of the greenhouse. It is, of course, 

 understood that all water is drained from 

 heating pipes and boiler and that any cold 

 water connections be cut off where danger of 

 freezing exists. This work should be done 

 during November. After March ist the 

 greenhouse should have a little artificial heat 

 in order to bring on spring crops. Not much 

 fuel would be needed during the day, unless 



the weather is unusually cold, but some warmth 

 should be kept in the pipes all night. By us- 

 ing a littl fire heat then very much earlier crops 

 will be assured. 



"VTOT much can be had in the way of grow- 

 ■*• ^ ing crops in an unheated greenhouse dur- 

 ing December, January, and February. Yet 

 we want to increase our food production as 

 much as possible during the coming winter, 

 and an unheated house will assist in this effort. 

 If the house contains benches with sides these 

 should be filled at once with a compost of well 

 rotted manure one part, and rotted pasture 

 loam or good garden loam three parts. On 

 part of this sow rows of prickly spinach as 

 soon as possible. Let the rows be 10 inches 

 apart. This will soon germinate and will 

 easily withstand the winter; give the surface 

 a mulch of dry leaves after the middle of De- 

 cember. 



You probably have lettuces in the garden 

 which have not yet attained any great size; 

 dig them up carefully and plant in a bench 8 x 

 8 inches apart. They will continue to grow 

 for some time. Give them also a good mulch 

 of leaves and they will pull through the winter 

 unless it is unusually severe. 



Are there any cauliflowers that are not 

 headed up? Lift them carefully, soak well in 

 water, tie the leaves together over the top, 

 which will prevent them breaking and also 

 protect the "flowers" and keep them white. 

 Plant them in the benches. Dandelions make 

 excellent greens in late winter. Secure a 

 number of strong roots now and plant in the 

 benches. 



"\ X 7"HEN the power of the sun is increasing 



* * perceptibly, about middle of January, 



it will be safe to make sowings of garden peas, 



radishes, lettuces, and round spinach. Don't 



worry about them because the weather is cold, 

 for even if the soil on the bench freezes they 

 will not be harmed, especially if a dry mulch of 

 some kind be given. A month later you can 

 sow more lettuces, beets, or spinach if the 

 needed bench space is available. 



A few luxury vegetables are easily to be had. 

 Some old asparagus roots taken inside will 

 yield a few early bunches. The roots can be 

 dug now carefully and planted below the 

 benches of the greenhouse covering the roots 

 with two or three inches of soil. 



If mushrooms are liked, a bed can be made 

 below one of the benches. It will not produce 

 through the winter but will give an abundant 

 crop as the weather gets warmer. It will do 

 the bed no harm even if it freezes solid. Use 

 pure culture spawn, and a mixture of fresh 

 horse manure three parts and loam one part. 

 Allow rank heat to subside before making up 

 the bed. Spawn when heat in the bed de- 

 clines to 90 degrees, using portions of spawn 

 as large as an English walnut and cover these 

 two inches deep, 12 inches apart each way. 

 Ten days after spawning spread two inches of 

 loam over the surface and beat it firmly, then 

 cover with hay and let alone. Manure just 

 moist enough so that it can be squeezed to- 

 gether without water exuding is in the right 

 stage. Pound this nine inches deep and the 

 firmer it is made, the longer heat will be main- 

 tained and the better the crop." 



FLOWERS are wanted early? Well then, 

 sow Sweet Peas, Bachelor's Buttons, 

 Mignonette and Marigold at the end of Jan- 

 uary. Dutch bulbs such as Tulips, Hyacinths, 

 Narcissus, etc., if carried over in a cold cellar 

 can also be brought into the unheated green- 

 house late in February, at which time also it 

 will be perfectly safe to start Hydrangeas, 

 Lilacs, Rambler Roses, Deutzias, and other 

 dormant deciduous shrubs or climbers. 



A cool, or even cold, house can be used to grow the hardier vegetables earlier than the outdoor garden. Mushrooms may be grown under the bench 



129 



