334 



SCIENCE OF GARDENING. 



Part II. 



Sect. V. Cold Plant-habitations. 



1 696. Cold plant-habitations, i though seldom or never erected, yet deserve to be men- 

 tioned as resources under certain circumstances. These circumstances may be, a desire 

 to cultivate the alpine plants of Europe in tropical climates, or to cultivate the mosses 

 and ferns of the north of Europe in its more southern countries. 



1697. The principle on which a cold house can be constructed in a warm climate must 

 either be that of the exclusion of the heat by coverings or envelopes ; or the abduction of 

 heat by evaporation or contact with cold bodies. Heat will be, to a certain extent, ex- 

 cluded, by forming the house in the ground ; by excluding the sun's rays from its roof; 

 by a high wall on three sides, leaving only an opening in the middle of the north side ; 

 and by a double or treble roof of glass to the excavation. A house to be cooled by eva- 

 poration may also be sunk in the ground ; or it may be raised above it, shaded from 

 the sun, and over it may be supported a number of shower-pipes (16890, which, by pro- 

 ducing a gentle and continual rain on the glass roof and stone or other sides of the house, 

 would draw off much heat by evaporation. Enclosing it by a line of powerful jets-d'eau 

 would effect the same purpose. To produce cold by abduction, the house might be sunk ; 

 its floor supported on pillars ; and its sides and bottom kept in contact with a running 

 stream ; or, if it could be afforded, ice renewable as it melted. These hints are sufficient 

 to show how cold plant-habitations may be formed in any climate : to enter more at 

 length on the subject would be useless, in a work calculated chiefly for the climate of 

 Britain. 



Chap. III. 



Edifices used in Gardening. 



1698. Edifices of different kinds are required in gardening, for carrying on operations, 

 for retaining or preserving materials and products, and for recreative or decorative pur- 

 poses. We" shall consider the leading genera in the order of economical, anomalous, 

 and decorative edifices. In all of these, the details of construction belong to civil ar- 

 chitecture ; but the design of the greater part ought to be regulated by the judgment of 

 the gardener or garden-architect. 



Sect. I. Economical Buildings. 



1699. Economical buildings are chiefly dwellings, store-rooms, and working-places, 

 entrance-lodges, and buildings for procuring or retaining water. 



1700. The head-gardener s dioelling-house, in small places, often assumes the character 

 of porter's lodge to the gate or entrance ; or is placed in some point of the grounds requiring 

 protection. In all cases it should be near to the garden, and if forcing is carried on, 

 the nearer it is placed to that department the better. Sometimes it is placed in the 

 back sheds, but that is an unwholesome situation ; such sheds fronting the direct north, 

 and without a single opening to the south, east, or west, are entirely excluded from the 

 sun, excepting during a few mornings and evenings in summer. A small enclosure, near 

 the forcing-department, and, if possible, on rising ground, so as to command a view of 

 at least that part of the garden, is to be preferred. With respect to accommodation, no 

 dwelling in this country, for a servant expected to do his duty, ought to contain less on 

 the ground-floor than a kitchen, back-kitchen, and parlor ; on the floor above that, at 

 least two bedrooms, with closets, and other requisite appendages, internal as well as ex- 

 ternal. This will suit a prudent man and his wife, not in circumstances to keep a maid, 

 or to produce a numerous offspring. But for such as afford to keep a servant, or have, 

 or deem it right to have, a large family, or persevere without thinking any thing about 



