HOR TICUL TURK A T CORNELL. 



149 



The house put up the past 

 fall is 20x60 feet, cut in the 

 middle by a glass partition. 

 The roof of the first half 

 B, is built at an angle of 

 about 34 degrees, and is used 

 for growing tomatoes. The 

 roof of the other part, C, 

 has a lower angle, being de- 

 signed for a cucumber house. 

 The tables in the tomato 

 house are about 18 inches 

 lower than in the part de- 

 voted to cucumbers. The 

 ground is dug out for the 

 south walk, which is nearly 

 three feet lower than the 

 upper one, both walks being 

 on the same level in each 

 house. The lower table is 

 about even with the surface 



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of the ground outside. The middle one is 7 feet wide 

 and a foot above the other, and the one at the north side 

 10 inches higher. The roof is built with permanent sash 

 bars, except the ventilating sash. Every fifth bar is 

 supported by a strong rafter, and fastened between these 

 are strips of band-iron, with their edges supporting the 

 intervening bars. The rafters themselves are supported 

 by gas-pipe standards. The ventilating sash raise at 

 the top, in order to prevent the wind from blowing in 

 upon the plants and to give a more even movement of 

 air. The size of glass used in this house is 14 x 24 in. ; 

 in the old house it is 12x16 in. 



On the lower bench in the tomato house the plants 

 are grown directly in the soil. One steam-pipe here 

 runs beneath the soil, the other along the side of the 

 house just above it. On the other tables the plants are 

 grown in boxes and pots. Part are grown with four 

 plants in a box 18 inches square and 12 inches deep, 

 some with a single plant in a box 10 inches square, and 

 the balance in lo-inch pots. The large boxes contain- 

 ing four plants promise best and the pots poorest. The 

 plants are trained to strings fastened to the 

 roof, and all side shoots are cut off to con- 

 fine them to a single stem. They receive an 

 occasional jarring to insure proper pollina- 

 tion. The varieties growing are Lorillard, 

 ^ Ignotum, Dwarf Champion, Potato-leaf, Vol- 

 unteer, French Upright, Sunrise Yellow and 

 Large Yellow. Some of these varieties are 

 grown purely for experimental purposes. 

 The plants are remarkably vigorous, healthy 

 and clean. 



In the cucumber house are several varie- 

 ties of cucumbers, melons, squashes and 

 beans. Here the middle bench is dividedi 

 the north half being about 15 inches higher 

 than the other half, which is only a few inches 

 above the outside one. All the plants are 

 grown directly in the soil. A couple of the 

 American cucumbers are now giving good 

 fruits, while English sorts, planted at the 

 same time, are just beginning to set. A 

 beautiful lot of beans is now (January 31st) 

 furnishing pickings. Sion House and Dwarf 

 Flageolet, six weeks planted, appear to Ije 

 giving about equal returns. 



Across the end, covering the doors of the 

 two houses, is a small glass lean-to, in use 

 by one of the students at present for some 

 experiments with radishes of different vari- 

 eties. Alongside of this is a storage pit, C, 

 with board roof. 



Directly to the east is a pit, AI, 1 2 x 20 feet, 

 with covered entrance, used for mushrooms. 

 Steam pipes are carried into this, and are so 

 laid that they can be used for heating two 

 hot-beds, H H, each 6x12 feet, when desired, 

 as shown in the cut. 



