AuGeusr 1906 
approved 
type of house for forcing roses. The absence of 
eaves is a feature of this style of construction, 
making a very light house 
Tne inree-quarier span is the most 
admit more light, but the cost will be in- 
creased by perhaps $100. 
COMPARATIVE COSTS 
It makes very little difference what form of 
house is to be erected. The cost per lineal 
foot for an even span is practically the same 
as for a lean-to of the same length and width. 
In the lean-to, in order to get the sufficient 
bench and walk space inside, it is necessary 
to carry the roof to a point much higher than 
in the even span house. The extra frame- 
work and material for the roof cost a good 
deal, yet add practically nothing to the effici- 
ency of the house. 
The three-quarter span house, which dif- 
fers from the even span, in having the ridge 
nearer to one side, and a short span from 
there down to the top of a high wall is equiv- 
alent to a lean-to with a few feet on the top 
cut off and turned over. It is a practical 
house for fruit trees particularly, where the 
main object is to maintain a slight degree of 
forcing. Such a house should stand with its 
exposure to the south; in other words, it 
should extend east and west; the object being 
to secure as much of the sun’s heat as possible 
rather than abundance of light. 
For ordinary plants, such as the amateur 
will grow in a general collection, a lean-to is 
not so well adapted as the even span because 
the illumination being all from one side, the 
plants get drawn in that direction, just the 
same as they do in the ordinary window 
garden. 
Where the glass structure is designed for 
ornamental purposes as much as for utility, 
what is known as the curvilinear roof is very 
popular because it does away with the straight 
A home made amateur’s house of wood. Good 
or starting seeds, bulbs, etc. The roof is too low 
pitched for best results in growing plants. Could 
be erected for $250 
DEE GARDE Ny MEAG AZ NE 
lines and sharp angles which characterized 
the simple greenhouse. The curved line 
adds a degree of beauty, and where this is an 
important consideration, a little of utility 
may be sacrificed for the sake of art. 
THE ROOF PITCH 
Greenhouse builders vary the degree of 
pitch of the roof up and down from 74 inches 
The curvilinear roof, very artistic, but expen- 
sive, and obstructs light. The Kind of greenhouse 
that many beginners affect: beautiful lines and wood- 
work. The poor foundation needs protection in winter 
to the foot, but it is always somewhere around 
that figure, which is equivalent to an angle 
of 32°. This angle allows the sunlight to 
pass through the glass most directly for the 
longest time during the day, together 
with accomplishing the very desirable object 
of quickly shedding the snow. A roof that 
approaches the flat presents a big problem in 
winter, and artificial means may have to be 
resorted to in order to remove the snow and 
admit light to the growing plants, but its 
Not appreciably cheaper 
Should be run east and west, 
Wood frame lean-to. 
than an even span. 
for maximum of sunlight and sunheat. 
$50 a foot, complete, with heating 
Costs about 
most serious objection is the impossibility of 
making it tight—it will surely leak. A pitch 
of six inches to the foot is as low as should be 
built. A much higher pitch, while solving 
the snow and leakage problems, results in a 
great loss of light at the times of year when 
the sun does not rise very high and when it 
is most needed. 
In the curvilinear roof there is always some 
one portion, it is true, at which the sun’s rays 
strike at right angles, but in by far the larger 
portion the glass is standing at all variations 
from that to the perpendicular, when prac- 
tically no light is passed through. Another 
2] 
The even span, running north and south, is the 
best all-purpose house. A first class modern build- 
ing, all iron frame, 11 x 20 feet, heating and all 
complete will cost about $1000 
objection is that this very pretty roof is cer- 
tainly ten per cent. more costly.: 
THE DIRECTION OF THE SUN 
There is a division of opinion as to how a 
house should be placed in relation to the sun. 
One that is built entirely of glass should per- 
haps best run north and south. It is evident 
that this will give the greatest exposure to the 
sun during the longest number of hours, both 
sides receiving illumination at some time 
during the day. The small end of the house 
to the north is the only portion that does not 
receive the sun directly. 
For this very reason, it is better to select 
a south wall of a house for the ordinary con- 
servatory, or lean-to greenhouse, when such 
is erected in connection with the dwelling. 
The north side of such a house has no glass 
whatever. Most florists, however, are now 
placing their carnation and rose houses east 
and west. 
THE COMMONEST BLUNDERS 
The chief mistakes which the amateur is 
likely to make in constructing his own green- 
house are these: 
t. Insecure framework. 
2. Too heavy lumber and other than cy- 
press. 
3. Incorrect pitch to the roof. 
4. Lack of economy in internal space. 
5. Skimping the walls and foundations. 
Perhaps the last is the most common of all, 
and when the winter comes, the problem of 
maintaining a proper growing temperature 
causes more anxiety than the whole crop of 
the house is worth. A greenhouse must be 
built for winter; it is not an uncommon sight 
to see an otherwise very pretty and satisfac- 
range of houses 
The 
Costs 
A compact and picturesque 
giving all possible variations of exposure, etc. 
Kind to build for a varied assortment of plants. 
some thousands of dollars 
