CHAP. I VILLA GAKDENING HI 



The Conservatory. — In gardens of the fii'st or second class 

 the conservatory is generally a special featm-e near the house, 

 occasionally being joined to or connected with it by a glass- 

 covered colonnade. Usually its architectural featiu-es are in 

 unison with the mansion, as there should be harmony in such 

 matters. Conservatories of moderate size shoidd have the roof 

 formed with a single span, and the proportions of the building 

 shoidd harmonise, i.e. its height, length, and width shoidd bear 

 some proportion to each other. A flat dumpy roof on a tall build- 

 ing, when placed in a prominent position, is always an eyesore. If 

 the conservatory be of considerable size, then the single span will 

 hardly do. It will be better to break it up into several spans on 

 the ridge and fiin-ow principle. The arrangement of the interior is 

 a matter of some moment, and will require careful consideration in 

 connection with the other items of garden arrangement. For 

 instance, there are many conservatories in the country which are 

 exceedingly diflicult and expensive to manage and keep in order, 

 for they are dismal places, in which flowering plants will not live 

 in winter. Pakus and Tree Ferns are the only things which 

 really succeed in such places. Very few conservatories are well 

 adapted for the growth of flowering plants, and in arranging the 

 interior it shoidd be borne in mind that to build a conservatory to 

 be kept gay at all seasons wdl necessitate a number of houses for 

 growing plants in some other position in order to have a constant 

 supply coming on. Such a house can be made most interesting, 

 but the expense will be considerable. If a number of glasshouses 

 exist elsewhere for the growth of plants for the conservatory, the 

 permanent features of the latter house may be confined to the 

 creepers on the roof and on the back wall, and the backgrounds or 

 centres, which might be formed of large specimen Camellias, or 

 Palms, or Tree Ferns, or some plants which will develop into grand 

 specimens. Some time ago I was in a conservatory where the 

 scarlet Indian Rhododendi'on arboreum formed a prominent object. 

 A few such plants form centres round which the brilhant flowers 

 may be gi-ouped very eftectively. Draciena indivisa and Grcvillea 

 robusta are excellent plants to form centres in a conservatory 

 border. The Grevillea requires a little pruning to keep it in 

 bounds. If there are but few houses for growing flowers to keep up 

 the show in the conservatory, the space for their occupation must 

 be curtailed likewise by increasing the permanent features of the 

 house, i.a. by planting up more of the space. In the arrangement 

 of the interior of the conservatory, the purpose for which the house 

 is required must carry weight. If for a promenade, then good 

 broad paths will be necessary. 



