April 9, 1874. ) 



JOUBNAIi OF HOBriGULTUBE AND COTTAGK QAUDENEB. 



287 



A NEW MODE OF GLAZING. 



HAT the reduction in the price of glass lias 

 not been met by a corresponding reduction 

 in the expense of fixing it to its framework, 

 is much to be regretted. Invention, it is 

 true, lias not been altogether allowed to lie 

 idle in the matter, and various modes have 

 been adopted with the view of dispensing 

 with the usual quantities of putty and paint; 

 and slips of wood to fix on, instead of the 

 putty or in substitution for the groove in the 

 bar, have been adopted, as well as several other methods. 

 Most, if not all, of the modes hitherto suggested have 

 failed, however, to secure all that was expected of them, 

 and that adopted a century ago seems to be the most 

 general one stiU ; nay. with the exception of now and 

 then a trial case of some new plan, white lead and putty 

 are the all-important agents. But I am not sure that 

 this state of things wLU continue ; the present age is an 

 inventive one, and it is not unlikely that something may 

 be found out that will alter the stereotyped mode of 

 proceeding. The removal of old putty, or rather its fall- 

 ing off, and replacing it every now and then, involve an 

 expense that everyone would like to get rid of, and it is 

 certainly possible to remedy this to some extent. A 

 plan I saw a few days ago, though not in itself perfect, 

 was, nevertheless, a great advance in this direction, and as 

 it was said to have answered well during the past winter, 

 it is well worthy the attention of all who contemplate 

 erecting glass houses. It is equally adapted for the single- 

 light frame as for any other piece of glazing where glass 

 has to be secured to wooden or u'ou bars ; for although 

 in the example in question the bars were of wood, a 

 little extra contrivance would adapt it to iron bars. 



In the garden of Charles Neve, Esq., at Chart Sutton, 

 Kent, a span-roofed house for Grapes and Peaches was 

 erected last year. The glazing was effected without putty 

 or any substitute for it. The house did not differ much 

 in outline from many others. The north lights were 

 much the smallest, and made to open to admit air, while 

 those on the other side were fixed ; and the rafters being 

 of considerable length, the bars were proportionably stout, 

 and every third or fourth one was a rafter. The glazing 

 bars were much stouter than ordinary, and cut with the 

 usual rebate for the glass to lie on, but the rebate was 

 somewhat deeper. Tliis extra strength was required for 

 fixing the blocks which secure the glass in its place. 



Now, so far as has been explained, the construction 

 does not differ from that of most houses glazed with 

 putty, but none was used here, the glass being laid 

 flat in its place without anything of the kind, and kept 

 there by a series of cork wedges placed between it and 

 some little blocks secured to that portion of the bar 

 which is left between the rebates. These little blocks 

 are small pieces of deal not more than 2 inches long 

 by about three-quarters of an inch wide, and perhaps 

 three-eighths of an inch thick ; being chamfered at the 

 corners, two of them are fixed to the top part of the 



No. 680.-VOL. XXVL, Kew Sbbies. 



rebating bar just flush with the upper side of it, and 

 being opposite each other, resemble a number of octagons 

 of somewhat less than 2 inches across. In the case 

 referred to they were about 15 or 18 inches apart on the 

 bar or rafter, being placed, in fact, where there was an 

 overlap in the glass. Now, it will be easily seen that 

 by this contrivance the glass can be readily put into its 

 place, and the question will be asked. How is it kept 

 there ? This, I may say, is the easiest part of the affair, 

 and the mode in which it is done is, I consider, the 

 especial merit of the invention, which I believe is in 

 the com-se of being patented, but there is no harm in 

 making it known. The plan adopted was simply to 

 secui-e the glass in its place by thin strips or wedges 

 of cork between it and the small blocks above alluded 

 to ; ordinary bottle corks cut to the suitable size answer 

 the purpose very well, as those I saw were not much 

 thicker than an old-fashioned penny. It is easy to con- 

 ceive how quickly a quantity of glass can be fixed by 

 this mode of procedure ; and I am told the house has 

 passed through the winter satisfactorily, not a square 

 being cracked by the frost. The squares were certainly 

 not small, being upwards of 20 inches long by 14 wide, 

 and I think 21-oz. to the foot, but of the weight I am 

 not certain. 



It may be a.sked. What hindrance is there to the water, 

 driven by the wind to the outer edge of the square, pass- 

 ing between the glass and the glazing bar to the inside of 

 the house '? To prevent this, the portion of the bar on 

 which the glass rests is cut into a groove, along which 

 the water flows to the bottom underneath the glass ; but 

 I believe this portion of the contrivance was not so satis- 

 factory as the rest, and some improvement is contem- 

 plated in the next house to be erected. I suggested 

 bedding the square in putty in the usual way, but not 

 to let any appear above the glass; but the wish to do 

 away with putty altogether induced the inventors to 

 dispense with it underneath as well as above. The step 

 taken is one in a direction that I trust will be followed 

 by many others having the means to do the method full 

 justice ; and the fact of the house having passed through 

 the winter without a single square broken, is a proof that 

 this method of glazing has its advantages. Looking at 

 the house from a short distance off the appearance of the 

 roof is like that of any other greenhouse structure, except 

 in being regularly dotted over with octagon-shaped little 

 blocks (for the two opposite each other resemble that 

 figure), which break the monotony of the plain rafter, aud 

 form a pleasing feature. This mode of glazing is adapted 

 to any description of glass structure, even to the single- 

 light frame, and I trust it will come into use so far as to 

 test its merits in competition with the other modes of 

 glazing in general use, and probably some improvements 

 may be effected. 



Old readers of gardening periodicals will remember a 

 plan of glazing recommended, I believe some forty years 

 ago, by Messrs. Cottam & Hallau, extensive hothouse 

 builders, and which in some degree resembled the above ; 

 but I beheve that instead of small wooden blocks with 



Ko. U3J.— Vol. LI., Ou> Sbbies. 



