212 
HOUSE AND GARDEN 
March, 1914 
Greenhouse Counsel 
It’s Pre-Building Value 
I F greenhouse building were like other kinds of building, practically any 
builder could build a greenhouse. 
But it is not so. 
Of prime importance in greenhouse building, is an exact knowledge of 
plant life and its varying requirements. On greenhouse concerns, ability 
and facilities to meet these requirements, hinges the success of your house. 
It might be built ever so well — but located wrongly. Built strongly, but 
shut out too much light. The ventilation is wrong. The heat is wrong. 
The benches wrong. Anyone of which by itself is serious enough; but 
when taken in combinations is seriously serious. 
The value then of taking the question up and counseling with a firm of 
long established reputation becomes self evident. 
Over 60 years of greenhouse heating and a quarter of a century of 
greenhouse building experience, is what we base our counsel on. 
Our house may not be the cheapest, but it will actually cost less—results 
and durability considered. 
If you are thinking of having a greenhouse, let us counsel with you 
either by mail or in person. You are, of course, welcome to our catalog. 
Hitcki 
NEW YORK CITY 
1170 Broadway 
PHILADELPHIA, PA. 
Pennsylvania Bldg., 15th & Chestnut Sts. 
FACTORY: ELIZABETH, N. J. 
BOSTON: 49 Federal Street, John Hancock Building 
No. II 
All kinds of artistic Bird r 
Houses made of the sweet 
smelling Jersey Cedar, sent 
by Parcel Post prepaid. 
Your choice for $1.25. The 
three for $3.50. Resolve 
now to do something for 
the birds this year. They 
will amply repay you the 
little expense and trouble. 
THE CRESCENT CO,. "Birdvllle” 
Toms River, N. J. 
No. 17. Wren Bracket 
S 1.00 each, 6 for $ 5.00 
will be beneficial, although the radishes, 
and probably the carrots, will not need 
this assistance if the soil is rich, as care 
must be exercised not to force them into 
a growth of top at the expense of root 
development. 
While the soil is to be kept from dry¬ 
ing out, care must be taken, especially 
until the sun gets strong and the days 
long, not to overdo the matter of water¬ 
ing. Avoid the “little and often” policy. 
Give the frames, or the plants in flats, a 
good wetting, and then withhold the hose 
or watering-can until it is again really 
needed, as indicated by the soils drying 
on the surface. Also avoid watering on 
dull days and late in the afternoon; 
choose rather bright mornings, so that 
the surface and foliage and the surface 
of the soil will have a chance to dry off 
before nightfall. As soon as the weather 
becomes less severe, strip off the sash 
entirely when possible, and let the rain 
do as much of the watering for you as 
possible. 
For ventilation, the general rule is to 
ventilate as much as possible, while main¬ 
taining the requisite temperature. The 
sash must be watched very carefully in 
bright weather, for the sun on the glass 
runs up the temperature in an almost in¬ 
credible way. A notched stick for each 
sash, which will hold the sash open at 
various heights from one to six or eight 
inches, is very convenient. Unless a 
warm night is anticipated, the sash should 
always be closed early in the afternoon, 
so that they will not become chilled by 
the rapid fall in temperature resulting 
when the sun “gets off” the glass. The 
lettuce, radishes, carrots, etc., will do all 
right with an average night temperature 
of 40 to 50 degrees, but the tomatoes, 
peppers, eggs, melons, cucumbers, etc., 
will want io or 15 degrees higher than 
that. The day temperature in the sun 
may in each case run up to 15 or 20 de¬ 
grees higher than those figures. 
The aphids, or green-plant lice, are 
the most troublesome insect enemies, and 
the “damping-off” fungus the most 
dreaded disease to guard against. Over¬ 
crowded, shading foliage, or too dry 
plants, in a close dry atmosphere, invite 
the former. As soon as they appear, 
fumigate with tobacco stems or dust, or 
spray thoroughly, repeating two or three 
times a day or so apart if necessary, 
with aphine, or some such nicotine ex¬ 
tract spray, following directions carefully. 
To guard against “damping off” and leaf- 
rot avoid sudden changes in temperature, 
and damp soil or foliage through nights 
and dull davs. 
In writing to advertisers please mention House & Garden. 
