l82 THE FLOEAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



A CHEAP SHADING FOE CONSEEVATORIES AND 



FERNEEIES. 



BX W. BRADBUEY. 



jHE cost of providing blinds of canvas, tiffany, or other 

 material, for the conservatory, the greenhouse, and the 

 fernery, is to many amateurs a serious matter, I shall 

 probably be doing good service by giving publicity to a 

 plan of screening the occupants of these structures from 

 the sun without the aid of blinds of any kind. Blinds are not only 

 costly, but they have a rather unsightly appearance ; and in the case 

 of conservatories of an ornamental character, there is some difficulty 

 in covering the roof with them. But by the plan I am about to 

 describe, there is no difficulty in screening the plants from the in- 

 jurious effects of brilliant sunshine, and tlie cost of materials for a 

 rather large structure is so trifling as to be hardly worth con- 

 sidering. 



Instead of moveable blinds, the glass is dotted with a mixture of 

 Brunswick green (a pigment which may be obtained at any oilshop) 

 and milk. There are two colours, known as light and dark green 

 respectively, and to obtain the proper shade these should be mixed 

 together in the proportion of two parts of light to one part of dark 

 green. That is to say, if one and a-half pounds are required, the 

 pound should consist of light green, and the half-pound of dark 

 green. Well mix the two shades, and then add the milk. To in- 

 sure its mixing properly, the milk must be added very slowly, and 

 be well mixed with the pigment as it is poured in. The best course 

 • is, perhaps, to add just sufficient milk to work it into a thick paste^ 

 and then, after the mixing lias been well doue, add as much milk 

 as will reduce it to the consistency of ordinary paint or of cream. 

 In applying this mixture to the outside of the glass, use a brush 

 that is worn very little, and put it on rather thinlv. As fast as a 

 few panes are covered, dabble it lightly with the end of the brush tO' 

 give it a stippled appearance. When so applied, the rains will not 

 wash it off; but at the end of the summer, when shading is no 

 longer required, and, indeed, at any other time if it is so desired, ifc 

 may be readily removed Avith hot water and a scrubbing-brush. 

 Hitherto, mixtures of white lead, whitening, and of lime, have been 

 used for smearing over the glass in cases where it was not desired to 

 use blinds ; but these mixtures are all more or less objectionable, 

 because of the unsightly appearance the structures have from the 

 outside and the painful effect the white light has upon the eyes from 

 the inside. For ferneries it is especially adapted, as it not only 

 protects the plants from the sun, but it also enhances their attrac- 

 tions by imparting a richer and more brilliant green colour to the 

 fronds. To other structures it also imparts a very cool and refresh- 

 ing appearance. It must not be left on the glass late in the 

 autumn, for the plants will then require all the light it is possible 

 for them to receive. 



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