MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 



89 



PAKT II. 



MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 



QUERIES: 



On a Greenhouse, &c. — I have so frequently derived advantage from the 

 queries aod remarks in the ' Floricultural Cabinet,' that I am induced to 

 think that an answer to the following questions may be useful to many of 

 your readers. 



I am in want of a greenhouse ; the situation I intend for it is on a south 

 border, 18 feet wide, having a good wall, and a gravel walk in front, the 

 length must vary with the expence of the building. It seems to me a great 

 advantage for the plants, and it also adds to the beauty of the house to have 



one li^ht behind, the ridge of tLe 

 roof being at B, in the annexed 

 sketch, the stage should be of the 

 same form as the house, if there is 

 a stage at all. A frequent plan now 

 is to have a raised pit in the mid- 

 dle of the house, but I think it can- 

 not show nearly so many plants as 

 a stage. There should be a walk 

 all round, and it is a question 



whether there should be two or three steps to the back part, as the plants 

 might thus be brought nearer to the glass. As to heating, have any of your 

 correspondents tried Dr. Arnott's stove, and with what success ? Dr. Arnolt 

 seems to think that it is well adapted for Horticultural buildings, it has the 

 advantage of producing a steady heat at a very trifling expence, but my fear 

 is, that it would create too dry an atmosphere for the plants. The hot-water 

 system seems to have superseded the old flue, and I should like to know 

 what it would cost, and bow the pipes might be best arranged for such a house 

 as that which I am describing? 



My primary object is flowers, not conservatory plants so much as gera- 

 niums. My gardener assures me that I may have some vines trained to the 

 rafters, and pruned on the spurr method, without much injury to the flowers, 

 I have seen them so trained at Welbeck, with two bunches of grapes at 

 each joint, they look very tempting, but what do your correspondents say to 

 the effect upon flowers? If there are vines, what sort should they be ? and 

 should there not be the means of taking them out of the house in winter ? 

 and what plan of construction do you recommend for this purpose ? As to 

 the roof, 1 have made up my mind on two points, first that it should be of 

 wood, as every one who has metal complains of its cracking the glass so 

 much ; secondly, that the wood should all be steeped according to Kyan's 

 patent, of which, from experience I have a very high opinion, and which I 

 think can be no where of more use than in horticultural buildings, from the 

 great exposure to the weather. 



As to glass there seems a ^reat difference in price, according to the size 

 of the pant-, I have glazed a large pit with panes five inches by three, it looks 

 exceedingly neat, and is strong, besides, this size avoids duty, but 1 do not 

 know whether it would look well for a house of considerable size. 



1 shall be glad if in this letter I have afforded any information, and shall 

 b? much obliged to you or any of your correspondents, if (taking these re- 



Vol. VII., No. 71. " m 



