Favorable conditions for healthy plant growth Part I

It is certainly true that many better-type modern homes do not offer very pleasant conditions for healthy plant growth. It is equally true that in many cases these conditions can be changed by different management in such a way that they would not only be healthier for the plants, but also for their human occupants. In many other cases, there is nothing more than a lack of information or energy in the way of building a place totally suitable for the growth of plants.

To illustrate what I mean, I mention the following example of how a person made a suitable place to grow flowers. Two narrow storm windows, which had been scrapped, were attached at right angles to the sides of the dining room windows, and the regular storm window bolted to them. Here were the three glass sides of a small greenhouse. Half-inch boards formed the bottom and the roof, the first supported by brackets to give resistance, and the second-placed with two inclined side pieces nailed to the top of the narrow and vertical sheet of which it was spoken, to give an inclination to the roof. The top and bottom were covered with an old flexible rubber mat that was repositioned under the slats, forming an airtight, weatherproof bond with the side of the house. The six-inch pale wood shelves inside gave a greenhouse of considerable capacity. How many houses are there where such an arrangement could be made as a result of a few hours of work and thought and very little expense? And yet, how often do you see something like that. In many cases, such a glass window would be all that is needed, as a radiator under the window inside the house provides enough heat. In the mentioned case, however, it was necessary to heat the small greenhouse. This was done by installing a small gas stove in the basement, as close as possible under the greenhouse window. A large tin bell was placed on this stove, with a sliding door in the front to facilitate lighting and regulation of the stove. From the hood, a six-inch tube, encased in a wooden casing for insulation, passed through the basement window and onto the greenhouse floor, ending in a small radiator.

These details are not given with the idea that they can be duplicated exactly (although in many cases they could), but to show what will be achieved with a little ingenuity and effort to overcome difficulties. The reward for efforts like these isn’t limited to growing a few more plants either. From the actual achievements described in the second part of this book, the reader should see that it is entirely possible and feasible for someone with average advantages to have for a large part or even the whole year, not just flowers that cannot be grown at advantage in the house, but also vegetables such as lettuce, radishes, tomatoes and cucumbers, and others if desired; and also to give flower and vegetable gardens a start that would never be possible otherwise. Don’t try too hard, but don’t be content with too little, when just a slight increase in planning and work will bring such a tremendous increase in results and happiness. I am sure that there is no one home in ten where more thought and more information contributed about the things this book is about, would not produce a greater return on real pleasure than any other investment that could be made.

Don’t be impatient to get a description of all the results at once. Don’t skip the chapters on soil, compost, pots, and other seemingly uninteresting things, because a deep understanding of these essentials is the foundation for success. And if a soil condition, or a plant management operation, is not clear to you when reading it, remember that it most likely will be when you attempt the job described. Nothing worthwhile is gained without a little, and often a lot, of patient work. And what is more valuable than keeping busy in the constant improvement and beautification of our daily environment?

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