The greenhouse needed so long by the Agriculture Department is finally nearing completion according to Royce Granberry, horticulture instructor. He hopes it will be finished by the beginning of next semester.
The 18×20 greenhouse will be used for all the plant science courses; however, the agriculture and biology courses will also have access to it. Granberry said, “The greenhouse is a necessity for the laboratories. We need plant specimens in January when the courses begin that are not available unless grown in a greenhouse. Pictures have been used in the past, but there is no substitute for the real thing.”
The greenhouse has completely controlled environment. Humidity and temperature are automatically regulated and will not vary regardless of outside conditions. The teachers like this because should the weather change suddenly at night or over the weekend, they will not have to worry about the plants. There will be some limitation on the variety of plants grown because the conditions will be the same for the entire greenhouse.
The greenhouse will be used for starting plants early. Plant growth experiments will be conducted by varying temperature and humidity. Budding and grafting will also be done. The greenhouse will be used during class hours, so it is located adjoining the horticulture classrooms. Granberry says that class may be found in the greenhouse as often as in the classroom.
According to Granberry, agriculture offers many good job opportunities, one of which is greenhouse management.