June 20, 1896. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
537 
Taking, then, a general and impartial view of opinions as expressed, 
the state and prices of various products in the markets, the inference is 
that the floral business as a lucrative one is declining, while the supply 
is not decreasing. What, then, is to be grown ? That is the question at 
issae, and it is one of vast importance as afEecting gardeners—market 
gardeners especially. We need to grow a commodity among others for 
which there is a good demand generally, and at the same time one 
which the foreigner cannot well supply in a fresh and marketable con* 
dition. In conjunction with the housing of bedding Pelargoniums, 
Mushroom-growing, and devoting a little spare space pro tern, for 
Rhubarb, my chief object in this article will be to advocate the growing 
of Mustard and Cress as being among the most remunerative products 
which can be grown daring the winter and spring months. Those who 
have an abundant supply of salads after a severe winter can appreciate the 
value of them, especially when four consecutive crops can be sown and 
cat off the same space of ground. Some gardeners near large centres 
are engaged in Mustard and Cress growing to an enormous extent, 
whence it is sent to provincial towns, often a great distance, owing to a 
deficiency in the home supply in those places. Gardeners generally 
have not realised the importance of this apparently insignificant com¬ 
modity ; but when made a speciality of it is almost incredible how 
remunerative an article it is, and once it has secured local favour the 
demand rapidly increases. It has an advantage over other crops in 
being quickly grown, and it must also be quickly disposed of, and it is 
here the home grower can give the foreigner the “ go-by.” Radishes 
and Lettuces meet with a ready sale, but as those can be better grown 
in frames that is out of our province at the present. 
Structures. —As there are endless systems of glass structures in 
vogue at the present time the same rule for the culture of things here 
dealt with can be applied to them, as space permits, and to any number 
as required. 
The first, and in most general use, is the span-roofed house, usually 
from 8 to 10 feet wide, about 8 feet high, and varying in length. The 
interior is divided by a path, on each side of which is a 4 feet border, 
usually .3 feet from the ground, and supported by brick columns. In 
some the flooring of the path is a grating, under which the hot-water 
pipes extend the length of the structure. In others the pipes extend 
round the house under the borders. Others are constructed, even in 
modern times, with the old-fashioned flue, which are preferred by some 
as giving a more lasting and regular heat, which is so essential to the 
successful cultivation of plants which require bottom heat, such as 
Cucumbers, and Melons. 
The second style of structure which will be mentioned is, as the 
previous one, span-roofed, the material difference being that they are 
about 25 feet wide, 12 feet high, and usually about 60 feet in length. 
Extending round the interior is a 4 feet border, as in the other under 
which the hot-water pipes extend. Along the side, and parallel with 
the border, is a path 1| foot wide, extending of course round the house. 
The portion in the centre is on the ground level. This is by far the 
most serviceable kind of house in the end, giving as it does a greater 
area in every direction. The primary outlay in construction is certainly 
a trifle more, but it is amply recompensed in a few seasons by the extra 
accommodation afforded. I have seen enormous crops of Tomatoes grown 
on the ground in these houses, which is contrary to the general theory 
that they must be grown close to the glass. 
We take it that where growing for market is extensively practised 
there is a corresponding convenience for obtaining necessary materials 
as required for the various purposes. Before, however, dealing with 
the border and ground crops it will be necessary to utilise the space 
above. At a distance of, say, 5 feet from the top of the house, may be 
suspended a shelf, made of boards a foot wide and of convenient length, 
to allow of taking down when not needed, and fitted to rest on 
L brackets, which are screwed on to the supports of the roof, of which 
there should be one at every fifth sash. There must of course be sufficient 
room left between the glass and shelf for watering. On each side of 
the house, and between the top shelf and the border at equal distances 
apart, two other shelves may be fitted, each being 15 inches from the 
glass, and of the same width. Fitted along the sides of these shelves 
are zinc troughs, to carry off the surplus water. 
On these shelves are placed bedding Pelargoniums, for which there is 
a brisk demand in the spring time. They may either be made into 
cuttings in August and placed into GO-sized pots, or put in boxes as 
cuttings, potting them off in January into GO-pots. If the former plan 
is adopted there is much less labour expenses attached to il|(as they are 
put into the pots, stood outdoors until rooted, and until frosty nights 
appear, when they can be transferred to the shelves, and there remain 
until brought out to harden in the spring. Given the top shelf to be 
3 feet wide, and extending the whole length of the house—viz., 60 feet, 
the GO-sized pots being 3 inches in diameter, 2880 plants could be 
placed there. The other four shelves being each 15 inches in width 
would accommodate 4800, or a total of 7680 ; but making allowance for 
a little space between the pots, 7000 would be a safer estimate. 
It is surprising how quickly a business in this direction will develop 
when the public becomes aware of it, and it is of immense advantage in 
every respect for the grower to be able to dispose of the plants retail. 
Thus the bronze, silver, and choice varieties sell readily at Is, per dozen 
(pots of course included), and the scarlets and whites at 3s. per dozen. 
Placed on a wholesale market, the approximate average price for various 
sorts would be about 20s. per 100. Even at that figure a good margin 
for profit is left, after deducting about 30 per cent, expenses. Once a 
stock of Pelargoniums is in possession, it should be kept up to allow of 
a number of cuttings being taken annually. Lobelia for edging purposes 
is also in good demand, and when sown about the end of July, pricked 
out in boxes, then potted in 2^-inch pots, will be good plants by the 
following spring, and realise at retail price 3s, per dozen. Thus 
thousands of useful bedding plants could be wintered and well 
established by spring at little expense or trouble, but would be one 
important item in the “ profitable employment of glass structures in 
winter,” 
Mushroom growing in glass structures is becoming more general, 
and is a step in the right direction, as the manure purchased will 
answer a double purpose in the houses before being used on the ground 
outside. To this end a good supply of suitable manure should be 
procured by the time the houses are cleared of Tomatoes. This is 
generally about the end of September, and as soon as convenient the 
glass and sashes of the structures must undergo a thorough cleansing, 
washing them with hot water in which softsoap or any disinfectant 
has been dissolved. The spaces under the borders are usually employed 
for the growing of Rhubarb and Seakale, but may be more profitably 
FIG. 96.— MR. PETER WILLIAMS. 
employed in the growing of Mushrooms, though before making the bed’ 
it is necessary to place boards on their edge along the pipes, also along 
the path to keep the manure compact. 
As Mushroom growing is so fully dealt with in Wright’s “ Mushrooms 
for the Million,” it would be useless for me to dilate on their culture 
here. I may, however, point out, in passing, that a less quantity of 
manure will suffice in glass structures, as artificial heat can be applied 
at leisure. Yet the other extreme must be guarded against—viz., that 
of making the beds too shallow, as the produce would not be so weighty 
nor of the best quality. A depth of 1 foot, soil included, may b named 
as being sufficient where the beds are made level. If severe weather 
should intervene and hard firing have to be resorted to, care must be 
taken that the bed next to the pipes does not become too dry, or failure 
may result. In the centre of the house and on the ground level the 
manure may be formed into ridges running parallel with the house; 
making them in this way will give a greater superficial area to forming 
one flat bed or beds. 
According to the dimensions of the structure, the borders and paths 
occupy a space of 11 feet in width ; there will then be 14 feet width left 
for this purpose. Making each ridge 2 feet wide at the base and of the 
same height would allow of six ridges being made, the remaining 2 feet 
being divided to allow space between the ridges for gathering the crops. 
The beds will need covering with hay or other material, and the same 
routine of attention as directed in articles on Mushroom culture. When 
grown in glass structures, however, they will require damping and 
watering oft^ner than when grown in unheated places. 
Computing that Mushroom ridges of these dimensions will produce a 
clear profit of 9s. per lineal yard, we may sum up the total accrued from 
this source as follows :—Placing the length of the ridges in the centre 
at 55 feet (they could not extend the length of the house, as space for a 
path would be required at one or each end), the total length of the 
ridges would be 110 yards, giving a clear profit of £49 5s. The beds 
