CHAP, ir VILLA GARDENING 147 



conditious are best seoured in a spau-roofed house. In hnndreds 

 of eases very good si^ecimens have been turned out of old-fashioned 

 lean-to houses, — this I know, for I have seen them ; but incessant 

 care and patience were required to keep them from getting one-sided. 

 With a spau-roofed house built to suit the special families of plants 

 cultivated, and made as light as possible — for most things, if the 

 glass came down to the ground it would be an advantage, and the 

 means of ventilation should be as extensive and as easily a^Dplied 

 as possible. There is room, too, I think, for improvement in the 

 arrangement of the stages or platforms on which the plants are 

 placed. If the corners were rounded off there would be less friction, 

 without loss of space, as the slice taken off the corner to get round 

 at an easy curve would be added to the opposite side to fill up the 

 angle there. I saw this carried out in a nursery at Liverpool 

 where things were remarkably well done, and if it had involved 

 any sacrifice it would not have been sanctioned ; but the square 

 corners of stages in plant-houses cause useless friction, and often 

 lead to broken pots and damaged plants. At the time the build- 

 ing is going on measures should be taken to obtain a good supply 

 of water, for a great deal will be required in smnmer. A good 

 roomy tank, built with bricks and lined with cement, will be very 

 serviceable to catch all the water from the gutters on the roof, and 

 it may be placed under the stage ; but in the summer this supply 

 gives out, though I have often, by means of a large underground 

 tank, stored enough water in winter to last the next summer from 

 the overflow of the tank under the stage. Still this source some- 

 times gives out too, and, if possible, some other supply should be 

 near, to become available if necessary. A pond is the best supply, 

 and if at a higher level, a pipe leading from it and a tap in the 

 tank will satisfy every want. 



In suburban gardens the water will doubtless be laid on. I 

 lay some stress upon this, because plants derive a good part of 

 their nutriment from water. And hard water, given either at the 

 roots or over the foliage, is one of the evils plant-growers have to 

 guard against. 



CHAPTER II 



The Temperate House. — The temperate regions of the earth 

 cover a large area, and the flora which inhabit these regions are 

 varied and rich. The very large section known as New Holland 

 plants will come under this category. Tlie Cape sends its quota 

 also, others are gathered up in China, and odds and ends are 



