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Bulletin 76

June, 1900

NEW HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE

AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION

UTILIZING

THE

GREENHOUSE IN SUMMER

A Summer House of Peppers.

BY F. WM. KANE

NEW HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE

OF

AGRICULTURE AND THE MECHANIC ARTS

DURHAM

Fig. 53. — Crocozelle Bush Squash growing on side bench in early summer.

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Fig. 54. — White Bush Scalloped Squash growing on side bench under glass.

UTILIZING THE GREENHOUSE IN SUMMER

BY FRANK WM. RANE

During the summer months it is the prevailing- custom to"
clean out the forcing houses, allowing them to lie idle until it
is time to prepare for the fall campaign. The excessive heat
in summer dries out the soil under glass quickly and conse-
quently much shading, watering, ventilating, etc., are required.
Also, the crops ordinarily grown under glass are readily grown
outside at this season. Three years ago it occurred to the
writer that there should be some tropical or other plants of
economic importance that would adapt themselves to the utili-
zation of our empty houses. Egg plant, peppers, sweet pota-
toes and tomatoes were selected for the first season. The
house used for the experiment is even span, 25 x 100 feet, and
with the exception of one side bench, which is 3*4 x 100 feet,
the beds are all on the ground. All of the plants used were
started early so that they were of good size when transplanted
into their permanent positions. By so doing we gained earlier
maturity and hence greater profit.

TOMATOES.

From tomato plants, the seed of which was sown on March
10, and the plants set into the ground beds between lettuce
on April 9, we began picking fruit on July 10. The plants
were set 18 inches apart each way and trained to one stem.
The varieties used were Early Acme, Beauty, New Liberty
Belle, Ignotum, Fordhook First and Bond's Early Minnesota.
See Figure 55. These varieties from past experience had
proved very valuable for forcing. Records were kept of each
of the varieties.

On examination of data at hand, it was found that August

136

UTILIZING THE GREENHOUSE IN SUMMER

10th could safely be counted upon as about the ripening period
of the outdoor crop in New Hampshire. Figuring the yield
per average plant for each variety to Aug. 10th, and then
taking the average of the whole, the yield figured 2 lbs., 6^2 oz.
per square foot. The average price which tomatoes have
brought between July 10th and Aug. 10th has been at least 7
cents per pound. Two pounds six and one-half ounces at 7
cents a pound equals nearly 16.8 cents, — the income from one
square foot. Multiplying this by the number of square feet

Fig. 55. — Specimens of Tomatoes.
12. Early Acme. 21. Ignatum.

'14. Beauty. 41. Fordbrook First.

18. New Liberty Bell. 49. Bond's Early Minnesota.

available for tomatoes, or 1,440 square feet, the area of our
center bed, we have a return of $241.92.

In 1897 outdoor tomatoes did not ripen until Aug. 30th,
the season being very backward. In this case the same vines
were continued in bearing, and the average weight per plant
at this date was 5 pounds, — or 3^3 pounds per square foot.
The price remained 6 cents throughout this time, making a
rate of 20 cents per square foot, or $288 as compared with
$241.92, — the sales to Aug. 10th. The plants at the end of
this period averaged from 6 to 8 feet in height. Plants that
were not trained to a single stem and on benches averaged

EGG PLANTS

*37

during the same time only 2 pounds per square foot. These
same plants would continue in bearing until the last of Sep-
tember at almost the same rate of yield ; but as soon as the
outdoor varieties begin bearing, there is little gained in keep-
ing them. At this time of year, the houses need to be over-
hauled and put into condition for the season's work.

As with tomatoes the possibilities of other crops under glass

Fig. 56.— The New York Improved Egg Plant grown under gli

during summer are little known. Egg plants and peppers find
ideal conditions in the summer greenhouse.

Neither of these fruited out of doors in Xew Hampshire in
1897, owing to the unfavorable conditions of the season.
Inside we fruited the large squash pepper at the rate of 160^
pounds per square rod, or 9^ ounces, averaging 7 fruit per
square foot; and the Ruby King at the rate of 122 pounds
per square rod or 7.2 ounces, averaging 5^ fruit per square
foot. See figure on cover of this bulletin.

138 UTILIZING THE GREENHOUSE IN SUMMER

Of the egg plants, the varieties used were White Pearl, New
York Improved, Large Purple, Black Pekin, and Early Long
Purple. The last named gives the quickest returns and is
very productive. Of the other three varieties the New York
Improved, figure 56, is preferable. They averaged a return of
about 18 cents per square foot.

SWEET POTATOES

Have not been a success for some reason. The vines were
very prolific, but few potatoes set. The variety selected was
the " New Hardy Bush or Vineless," introduced by Johnson
and Stokes for the first time in 1897.

POLE BEANS

Are a reliable and quick growing crop for the forcing house in
summer when overhead space is available. Otherwise use the
dwarf varieties. The directions for growing are the same as
for other seasons of the year; these are given in Bulletin No.
62 of this station.1

SWEET CORN,

Although it takes a longer time than many other crops, is well
adapted for growing in the forcing house in summer ; for
directions consult Bulletin No. 60, also of this station.2

CELERY

Is a crop that can with proper care be grown at this season
of the year. Of a number of varieties tested none was
as successful as The Golden Self Blanching. Fig. 57 is a
photograph of three varieties, Early Arlington, Golden Self
Blanching, and White Plume. These were transplanted from
the seed trays into ground beds on April 29th, and their pho-
tograph was taken on July 4th, just 65 days from transplanting.
The plants were set six inches apart each way. There is little
trouble in growing celery at this time of year under glass, but
the difficulty comes in blanching it. It is on this account

1 Forcing Pole Beans under Glass.

2 Green Corn under Glass.

CELERY

J39

that the Golden Self Blanching variety is preferable. This
variety blanches quickly and is ready for market in a very
short time, while the others require a longer time and there-
fore rot badly. The temperature being so high at this time of
year any blanching process must be of short duration. Celery

EARLY ARLlNOTONiSELF BLANCHlNG WHITE PLUME

Fig. 57. — Celery grown under glass.

grown at this time of year is not as crisp and nutty as in the
fall, but is very fair and we believe can be made a paying crop.
Early Squashes were also successfully grown, although no
definite data can be given as a number of varieties were tried
and there was not a sufficient quantity of any to form a basis
for an estimate. A few of the varieties as grown are seen in
the accompanying illustrations from photographs taken in the
houses, figures 53, 54. and 60.

140

UTILIZING THE GREENHOUSE IN SUMMER

MUSKMELONS.

In the season of 1898 a space 7x50 feet was used for forcing
summer muskmelons. The plants were started in pots and
handled similarly to cucumbers in every respect, training and
all. The plants were transplanted into the beds early in May
and began ripening fruit the fore part of August. This plot
yielded 330 fruit. The varieties grown were Rose Gem,

Fig. 58. — A house of Early Summer Muskmelons.

Netted Gem, and true Jenny Lind. They completely covered
the trellis for seven feet in height and were severely nipped
back. Fig. 59 is a photograph of the mature fruit hanging on
the vines, and Fig. 58 a view of the trellises in the house.

To make a financial success with muskmelons it is neces-
sary to have the crop mature before the out-of-door crop comes
on. The garden melons begin to ripen on the average about
the first of September, some seasons somewhat earlier and

MUSKMELOXS

141

more often later. It requires three months from the time the
plants are transplanted into the beds until the fruit is mature.
It is necessary, therefore, to start the plants early enough to
allow sufficient time for maturing and harvesting before the

Fig. 59. — A closer view of the fruit on vines shown in previous figure.

out-door varieties are ready. Three weeks to a month are
long enough from seed until ready to transplant from the pots
into the bed. The returns will vary according to various
markets; generally they should bring a fair price and find
ready sale.

T42

UTILIZING THE GREENHOUSE IN SUMMER

CUCUMBERS.

Cucumbers are forced readily in summer in the forcing-
house. The custom, however, with this fruit is to utilize the
same vines that have been bearing during the earlier spring,,
running them on until the crop begins to come in from the
garden which quickly floods the market. There doubtless are
other crops that will prove suitable for the greenhouse in sum-

Fig. 60. — Varieties Squashes under glass.
1. Crocozelle Bush. 2. White Bush Scalloped. 3. Vellow Bush.

mer. Definite information in regard to the details of forcing
the above named crops are not given in this bulletin, as this
information is already available in bulletins from various
experiment stations besides our own, and as well to be found
in the "Forcing Book," by Bailey, which is published by the
MacMillan Co., of New York city, at a price of 75 cents-
Doubtless those persons who will perhaps be the most inter-
ested in this subject are those already in the forcing business-

CONCLUSION

43

or who have greenhouses, and these doubtless have such liter-
ature already.

Greenhouses, more particularly forcing houses, are rapidly
increasing in number throughout the northern states. It may
be overdone in time, but at present it is a valuable source of
income. It almost invariably follows that a second or more
houses are built after the trial one. This may be due to a
number of causes; the labor necessary for one house might as
easily handle more ; one may not be large enough to supply
the custom of the place, etc. More likely, however, the owner
finds the occupation remunerative and delightful, besides
giving, as it does, work throughout the winter months. On
rainy days during the growing season, there is little trouble in
finding plenty to do inside, if one has a greenhouse.

The value of glass houses in connection with most agricul-
tural pursuits is just beginning to be appreciated. Where
many gardeners and farmers do not have stock and milk to
employ their time in winter, glass could be made to increase
their annual net earnings. It is not the purpose of this bulle-
tin, however, to dwell at length upon the value of glass houses;
but, assuming their recognized value, to point out the possible
economic importance of their further usefulness ; provided
they are properly cared for during the summer months.

CONCLUSION.

From our experience it is evident that we can ill afford to
allow the houses to remain idle throughout the summer. The
conditions are easily controlled, and whatever the outside sea-
son may be, we are assured of, at least, these crops.

Possibly this may not apply with equal force to those states
farther south, but it is a subject worthy of consideration, we
believe, in the more temperate sections and especially in New
England.

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