Docomber ID, 1887. ] 



JOtJBNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



455 



GT.ASR FOP. HORTICULTUR.'VL PURPOSES. 



TRUST that, unlike some re- 

 cent controversies, only use- 

 ful discussion will follow on 

 fho, subject I now intend to 

 discnss, and that the various 

 opinions held by practical 

 men will, when duly ventilated, tend to solve what, to the 

 gardening public, is yet a problem — namely, "Which is the 

 best and cheapest description of glass ? 



The requirements of individuals may in some cases 

 necessitate an alteration in the proposition stated, but for 

 the general reader, and I may say the general builder of 

 glass houses, tlie question of what is the best and cheapest 

 glass is comprehensive enough to allow of much being said, 

 and, taking it literally, must include the greater portion 

 of the glass used in glass structures of all hinds. By way 

 of emboldening oUiors to give their views on the matter, a 

 few remarks on some of tlie kinds of glass used in bygone 

 times, as well as at the present day, will not, perhaps, be 

 without their utility ; at the same time I hope that some 

 one will supply the omissions and rectify any errors I may 

 make, as well as state his own ideas on the subject, if he 

 thinks mine not in accordance with his experience. 



Commencing, then, with glass in the condition it was 

 generally met with when used in glazing structures adapted 

 to horticultural purposes some forty years ago, I am led to 

 the conclusion that in regard to variety, there were nearly 

 as many kinds used then as now, altliough it is probably 

 no exaggeration to affirm that its consumption has been 

 multiplied at least tenfold. At tliat period, however, tlie 

 Excise restrictions prevented the full development of the 

 glass trade, and encouraged a description of glass being 

 manufactured at once too thin and too expensive for ordi- 

 nary hothouse building ; while, to counteract its disad- 

 vantages, a very inferior glass was often adopted for 

 common purposes, and this, not being of sufficient clear- 

 ness to come within the scope of the Government duty, 

 was to be had very much cheaper, being, in fact, duty 

 free. This kind of glass varied considerably in degree of 

 lightness or transparency, but was usually dull and more 

 or less green. Though man}' of the windows of cottages, 

 and olHces nf various kinds, were glazed with this glass, I 

 cannot remember its being m-ach used for glass-house 

 buildincr. but I have seen frames glazed witli it, and can 

 bear testimony to the dark appearance they presented, 

 and the liability of sucli glass to become divty. My expe- 

 rieni-e of it, however, was not a long one. Crown glass, supe- 

 rior to the preceding kind, held the preference for a long 

 time, and even at the present day has its admirers. It is 

 yet far from being driven out of the trade, although the 

 quantity made is yearly bc:3cming less, and Us use in 

 No. S51.— Vou xm.. Nbw Skriis. 



horticultural buildings is mostly confined to the repairs 

 wanted in places where it has been used before, and where 

 another kind of glass cannot well be substituted for it. 

 Some old people, however, regret its going out of fasluon, 

 alleging that its defects were not half so numerous as those 

 of its successor the all-important sheet glass. 



Many years ago I was shown in a remote part of the 

 country a ^^nery ^^liich was said to have been built about 

 the beginning of the last century, and, strange to say. it did 

 not ditfer very ranch in appearance from tliose in use at 

 the present day, excepting that its timbers were more 

 sturdy, and, being oak, had apparently not been painted 

 for m.any years. The house had been converted into a 

 sort of greenhouse when I saw it, but the glazing showed 

 some of the changes that had come over the glass trade- 

 since the structure had been erected, as I saw a few panea 

 of a good sturdy description of glass said to have been ia 

 use before the Excise regulations came into force. This; 

 glass, as far as my memory goes, did not diH'er much from. 

 some of the kinds of rough plate now in use. but I took 

 but little notice of it at the time : the other kinds of glass 

 employed were the ordinary crown glass, almost universal 

 at the time, with some iinderduty glass, and. what was 

 more conspicuous than all, a considerable number of 

 bullions. The last, I may sa}', were by no means nn- 

 common at that time, as I have seen the lights of a framO' 

 glazed entirely with them ; but they were more frequently- 

 raet with in the windows of offices, as their weight was. 

 much against their being xised in moveable lights, to say 

 nothing of the other evils attending tliem. 



Prior to that great boon to the gardening world upwards 

 of twenty years ago, the removal of tlic duty on glass, 

 much attention was directed towards finding out a suitable- 

 substitute for it, and I believe more than one patent was; 

 taken out for a dressing for canvas or calico, so as to-- 

 render these fabrics transparent and waterproof, but soon 

 fell to the ground. The abolition of tlie duty on glass 

 caused such an extraordinary demand for the article that 

 the benelits of the measure were but partially realised at 

 first : but by degi-ees the price came down as considerably 

 as glass advanced in utility, and sheet glass has riow be- 

 come the order of the day. The demand being gi-eater than 

 the home manufacturers could supply, recourse was liad 

 to the foreign makers, whose glass was admitted info the 

 market also, but much of this being of an inferior kind, a» 

 outcry was raised against sheet glass, and another kind — 

 prepared rough plate, was put forth to supersede it. The 

 merits of this rough plate glass were, however, overrated, 

 and as by degi'ees a better description of sheet glass was 

 created, the reign of rough plate was short : not but that 

 many esteem it at the present day, but its expense, th« 

 difficulty which glaziers liavc in cutting it, with some other 

 disqualifications, seem to have restricted its adoption. 



Since sheet glass came extensively into use in garden 

 structures it h;>s undergone considerable alteraiion. or 

 rather its quality has been raised. In the earlier period 

 of its use a weight of l.S ozs. to the square foot was 

 thought sufficient, but was speedily raised to 1(5 ozs. and 

 this thickness is often used yet. although it is generaljy 

 Xo. 1CC3. -Vol. XXXVIII., Old ^KlaI3. 



