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A greenhouse is a
building in which many kinds of plants can be grown year-round.
Greenhouses are sometimes called hothouses. Europeans call
them glass houses. The roof and walls of a greenhouse are
made of glass or plastic. Inside a greenhouse, the temperature,
sunlight, and moisture can be kept at perfect levels, unlike
outdoors, where the natural changes of the earth's seasons
keep these elements changing.
The idea of a greenhouse has been around since the days of
the Romans. It is said that in 30 A.D. the Roman emperor Tiberius's
doctor prescribed one cucumber a day for him. Fortunately,
his gardeners were able to provide that one cucumber a day.
Apparently they were growing the cucumbers in large pots covered
with translucent mica. Mica is a glass-like mineral that is
found in thin sheets.
In the sixteenth century, European traders and explorers began
to bring back exotic plants that could not survive in the
colder European climates. To take care of these rare plants,
the first true greenhouses were built. These greenhouses were
called botanical gardens and were built first in Italy, then
in Holland and England. The science of botany initiated an
enormous amount of study and research into the cultivation
of all the new plants being discovered. Universities, learning
societies, and amateurs competed in trying to collect all
the known varieties of plants. To this day, new plants are
still being discovered.
The French, who had a passion for the wonderful new fruit
oranges, began building what they called orangeries to protect
the trees from frost. Experiments in greenhouse design continued
throughout the seventeenth century. New building technology
and improved glass led to larger and more ornate greenhouses.
The Palace of Versailles was an example of the elaborate efforts
of the time. It was more than 500 feet long, 42 feet wide,
and 45 feet high.
Today you will find greenhouses in use all around the world.
Many home gardeners build small ones. Vegetables such as cucumbers,
lettuce, and tomatoes are grown in hothouses so that they
can be sold in our grocery stores year-round. Florists also
purchase many of their flowers from greenhouse growers. Among
the most common of these flowers are the roses we buy for
loved ones.
Greenhouses are one
of the many great inventions that benefit mankind, and there
is a lot to learn about them. We've had lots of fun learning
about greenhouses. What you've read above is only a small
portion of what we found. Try using our list of online libraries,
or go to your local library and see what you can learn. Please
e-mail the professor
and let us know what you've found.
Your friends, Jessica, David, and Newton
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