simply securing to a suitable wall a
ridge-piece to hold one end of the sashes for the roof, and erecting a
wall, similar to the one described above, but without glass, and with a
plain, 2 x 4 in. piece for a sill, to support the other ends. Either a
single or double row of sashes may be used, of the ordinary 3 x 6 foot
size. In the latter case, of course, a purlin and supporting posts, as
shown in diagram, must be supplied. Every second or third top sash
should be hinged, to open for ventilation, and by tacking strips over
the edges of the sash where they come together, a very tight and roomy
little house can be put up quickly, easily and very cheaply. New sash,
glazed and painted one coat, can be bought for $3 to $3.50 each. Ten of
these would make a very practical little house, fifteen feet long, and
over ten feet wide.
[Illustration: Sash and frames for a coldframe or hotbed cost only about
$3.00 per frame, 3 x 6 ft., and will serve to raise thousands of young
plants for setting out in the spring]
[Illustration: A simple and ingenious type of window greenhouse made
from a single coldframe sash with side glazing and a shelf]
[Illustration: An inside view of the same. Three shelves are available
for plants in addition to the main shelf at the bottom]
Another form of lean-to where there are windows is shown in another
diagram. The even-span house, of which type there are more erected than
of any other, is also shown. The cost of such a house, say 21 feet wide,
can be easily computed from the figures given in the first part of
this chapter, the north wall, and purlin braces from the ridge posts,
being the only details of construction not included there.
[Illustration: Fig. 4--A simple form of lean-to greenhouse where there
is an available sheltering wall but with first-story windows. The inner
slope or valley should be drained]
[Illustration: Fig. 5--The simplest of all "greenhouses," which is in
reality little more than a deep coldframe with an opening into the
cellar]
A simple way of greatly increasing the capacity of the ordinary hotbed
or coldframe, is to build it next to a cellar window, so that it will
receive some artificial heat, and can be got at, from the inside, in any
weather. Several sashes can be used, and the window extend to include
as many of them as desired.
By all means get a little glass to use in connection with your garden
this coming year. Put up one of these small greenhouses,
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