October, 19 2 2 
67 
The aristocrat of all glasshouses is the fruit house. A grapery can be used only for growing grapes, 
such as the black Hamburgs illustrated here. Peaches, nectarmes and melons do not tolerate a 
companion crop, although the benches may be used for flowers 
THE MODERN GREENHOUSE 
The Advantages to Be Studied Before Installing 
A Glasshouse on the Country Place 
WILLIAM McCOLLOM 
A GREENHOUSE is the mark of dis¬ 
tinction that makes an estate of a mere 
country place. In the past it was more 
useful than beautiful but of late the design¬ 
ers of greenhouses have improved them won¬ 
derfully, and various architectural features 
have been added that make it possible to 
locate the greenhouse on the axis of a garden 
or make it a prominent feature in the gen¬ 
eral scheme. A few years back they were 
pushed off in some obscure corner and never 
looked at, in many cases not even by the 
gardener, who took advantage of the owner’s 
apparent lack of interest. 
The location of the greenhouse should be 
considered carefully from every angle. It 
should be convenient to the gardens, both 
flower and vegetable, of which it is a very 
important part; space should be left for 
future additions, because 
they will surely come along 
when you once get a good 
taste of greenhouse possibili¬ 
ties; and space must be pro¬ 
vided for service roads, for 
the delivery of coal and the 
removal of ashes. Low, 
poorly drained spots are to 
be avoided. Thanks to our 
present day construction, 
however, we need not con¬ 
sider the compass points, as 
our modern greenhouse has 
so few shading members that 
the only consideration is to 
make sure that the service 
building does not shade the 
The space under the benches is used for 
rhubarb, chicory or the forcing of tulips 
and narcissi 
greenhouse. Just one more thought—the ser¬ 
vice building, or workroom. Do not be too 
economical in its construction; build it large 
enough so that no changes will be necessary 
in case your greenhouse is enlarged at any 
future date; have it well built and properly 
equipped; lockers for tools, seeds, clothes, 
etc.; large spacious sink, with hot and cold 
water; lavatory for the workmen; soil 
Inns, pot racks, potting bench and a desk 
and chair. It costs very little more to do 
the thing well. When building, keep in mind 
that you are going to get dividends accord¬ 
ing to your outlay. It is the old story; a 
thing worth while excites interest, commands 
respect, and yields results. 
Say we have already let the contract for 
our greenhouse. Maybe we have talked it 
over seriously with the family circle and 
maybe we haven’t. Probably 
the lady of the house thinks 
of strawberries, grapes, 
peaches, orchids, roses, and 
everything good to look at 
or to eat. These she hopes 
to be hers for the asking. 
Maybe the younger daughter 
wants violets and sweet peas 
for her corsages, while the 
elder prefers lilies of the 
valley, maiden hair fern or 
blue lace flower. Surely, 
these are possible, the family 
says, for they grow in the 
garden in summer and they 
can be had all winter, even 
(Continued on page 126) 
Chrysanthemums are grown in an intermediate house, in which the night tem¬ 
perature is kept at 55 °. Carnations, snapdragons, tomatoes and beans can be 
companion crops 
