Fungus Ferguson's 'Glass House'
BY: BG EDITOR
A Victorian Garden
May 05, 2018 — GREENWOOD, BC (BG)
In the year 1901, Greenwood enjoyed the tasty benefits of its first glass-enclosed greenhouse operation, run by a man with a name to suit. "Fungus" Ferguson built a handy growers business, offering local produce that was a challenge for home gardeners. Plants that were sensitive to the chilly mountain air, like strawberries and tomatoes, thrived in his heated glass enclosure.
Fungus eventually expanded with a line of mushrooms, which must have long been a keen interest, given that his name preceded the launch of the greenhouse business. The greenhouse venture was announced in a January 1901 edition of the Boundary Creek Times:[1]
A NEW ENTERPRISE
Fungus Has a Splendid Place at the North End
"A Times representative recently visited Mr. A. Furgeson, better known as Fungus, at his new premises situated at the end of the townsite. Here he has secured nearly four acres of land. The genial club secretary has built a pretty cottage, a stable chicken house and a green house, and the glass house, mentioned last, because this is the most interesting part, or will be early next spring.
The industry which Mr. Furguson is establishing is yet in its infancy, but underneath the glass roof are to be found strawberry plants, well forward in fresh green leaves, radishes just through the ground, mustard and cress, cucumbers, parsley, lettuces and flowers of all kinds peeping through the wonderful black soil.
"Where did you get this magnificent black loom," was asked by the newspaperman. "Right here where we are standing" was the reply. "When excavating I put all the top soil in one place and since then I had it screened as you see it. The whole garden is just like this or better."
"I suppose you think it will grow anything?"
"Certainly, with water only as a fertilizer, it will grow anything. We can irrigate from Providence creek, but I do not think much irrigation will be required. You see, after August Providence creek sinks just above here and the water then runs on bedrock under the garden and eventually comes out at the lower end near the Auditorium, so you see we have natural irrigation."
"The glass house," continued Mr. Furguson, "is 100 by 22 feet. I intend to keep it warm in all sorts of weather. The boiler is guaranteed to do this. Heating the glass house can be done very economically. I am hopeful that the enterprise will be a profitable one if the people will support me.
I have tried gardening for three years in this vicinity and beyond the hardy vegetables which the Chinamen grow, I have never succeeded. Jack frost comes too frequently during the summer months and destroys tender vegetables, such as sweet corn, French peas, tomatoes, vegetable marrow, etc., so I came to the conclusion glass was wanted and glass I've got.
All these tender products are imported and freight and duty will be a big profit. I intend to grow suitable stuff outdoors. Every inch will be cultivated."
Fungus Has a Splendid Place at the North End
"A Times representative recently visited Mr. A. Furgeson, better known as Fungus, at his new premises situated at the end of the townsite. Here he has secured nearly four acres of land. The genial club secretary has built a pretty cottage, a stable chicken house and a green house, and the glass house, mentioned last, because this is the most interesting part, or will be early next spring.
The industry which Mr. Furguson is establishing is yet in its infancy, but underneath the glass roof are to be found strawberry plants, well forward in fresh green leaves, radishes just through the ground, mustard and cress, cucumbers, parsley, lettuces and flowers of all kinds peeping through the wonderful black soil.
"Where did you get this magnificent black loom," was asked by the newspaperman. "Right here where we are standing" was the reply. "When excavating I put all the top soil in one place and since then I had it screened as you see it. The whole garden is just like this or better."
"I suppose you think it will grow anything?"
"Certainly, with water only as a fertilizer, it will grow anything. We can irrigate from Providence creek, but I do not think much irrigation will be required. You see, after August Providence creek sinks just above here and the water then runs on bedrock under the garden and eventually comes out at the lower end near the Auditorium, so you see we have natural irrigation."
"The glass house," continued Mr. Furguson, "is 100 by 22 feet. I intend to keep it warm in all sorts of weather. The boiler is guaranteed to do this. Heating the glass house can be done very economically. I am hopeful that the enterprise will be a profitable one if the people will support me.
I have tried gardening for three years in this vicinity and beyond the hardy vegetables which the Chinamen grow, I have never succeeded. Jack frost comes too frequently during the summer months and destroys tender vegetables, such as sweet corn, French peas, tomatoes, vegetable marrow, etc., so I came to the conclusion glass was wanted and glass I've got.
All these tender products are imported and freight and duty will be a big profit. I intend to grow suitable stuff outdoors. Every inch will be cultivated."
The greenhouse operation run by 'Fungus' Ferguson was successful for some time, as evidenced by this news report from two years later:[2]
"It is not necessary to send away from home to get delicacies. All one has to do is to tell "Fungus" what is wanted and he can furnish it on the shortest notice. From delicate delicious products of the hot house, to mushrooms such as cannot be secured anywhere else, Ferguson's gardens can fill any order. The mushrooms would drive a satiated epicure into ecstasies and the other products of the gardens are no less tempting.
Fungus has demonstrated that right at home, the soil, and the climate, and a knowledge of the business can produce a better article than can be brought at a greater expense from a distance. It is one of those home industries which should receive universal encouragement."
Fungus has demonstrated that right at home, the soil, and the climate, and a knowledge of the business can produce a better article than can be brought at a greater expense from a distance. It is one of those home industries which should receive universal encouragement."
Botanical Print
As noted in an earlier feature, "Feeding Greenwood Miners", there was a great demand for groceries and garden produce to feed the men in the mining camps. In a description of the B.C. Camp,[3] which was located above the Oro Dinero in a clearing in the woods, we find mention of a neat vegetable garden kept by the men: "A healthy looking vegetable garden and a beautiful flower garden bears testimony to the fact that the soil above is as rich as the ore beneath."
It wasn't only the growing of garden produce that interested early Greenwood residents. The planting of good shade trees was also important:[4]
"Why not grow your own maple and ash trees for yourself, if you want to make forest plantations, or even to plant shade trees? Anyone who has had any experience in gardening can do this without difficulty and the trees, when they come to be planted, will not have to meet the risk of a long journey by railway and possibly delays which may injure and possibly kill them. The Forestry branch of the department of the interior will gladly give advice in the matter, and even send the seed free, as long as their supply holds out.
This recommendation is made in the annual report of the Superintendent of Forestry, which forms part of the annual report of the department of the interior, lately issued. One caution must, however, be given. The seed used should always, if possible, be taken from trees grown in the Canadian Northwest. Seed obtained from trees grown in the eastern provinces of the Dominion, or even from the prairie states, cannot be depended on to produce good, hardy trees."
This recommendation is made in the annual report of the Superintendent of Forestry, which forms part of the annual report of the department of the interior, lately issued. One caution must, however, be given. The seed used should always, if possible, be taken from trees grown in the Canadian Northwest. Seed obtained from trees grown in the eastern provinces of the Dominion, or even from the prairie states, cannot be depended on to produce good, hardy trees."
Vintage Seed Packs
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Boundary Creek Times — Jan 24, 1901, p. 2
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0172883
[2] Boundary Creek Times — Apr 10, 1903, p. 1
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0171083
[3] Boundary Creek Times — Jun 17, 1899, p. 5
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170429
[4] Boundary Creek Times — Nov 04, 1910, p. 1
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0172077
