INDEX. 



PART I. -CONSTRUCTION. 



SECTION I. 



SITUATION. 



Site and position, — What is to be understood by site and position. — Cir- 

 cumstances to affect the position of a hot-house.— Avoid bare, elevated spots. — ■ 

 Reasons for so doing. — For shelter. — For beauty and effect, . . , . \ . . 13 



Terraces. — Their origin, and use round horticultural buildings. — The un- 

 sightliness of turf terraces. — Architectural terraces. — Description of a terrace 

 at a gentleman's residence. — Effect of trees. — Effect without trees. — Choice 

 of position decided by other circumstances, 15 



Aspect. — Best aspect for lean-to houses. — Reasons for choosing a south- 

 eastern aspect. — Aspect for span-roofed houses. — The aspect oi conserva- 

 tories. — Unsuitable conservatories, 20 



SECTION II. 



DESIGN. 



General principles. — Object of hot-houses. — Agents of vegetative growth. — 

 Reasons why had structures arc so generally erected in this country. — Mansion 

 architects. — Their incapacity for erecting horticultural buildings. — Fitness for 

 the end in view. — Solid, opaque conservatories. — Conservatory at Brookline. 

 — Absurdity of spending large sums on conservatories. — Observations of an 

 architect. — Massive conservatories, 25 



Light a primary object. — Wonderful effects of light on vegetables. — Theory 

 of the transmission of light. — Rays of light reflected from transparent sur- 

 faces. — Action of light upon plants. — Effects of different rays. — Light which 

 has permeated yellow media. — Light which has permeated red media. — Light 

 which has permeated blue media. — Difficulty of obtaining pure colors. — 

 Amount of assimilation and perspiration in plants. — Necessity of making plant- 

 houses transparent on all sides, 29 



Slope of hot-house roofs. — Much depends on the angle of elevation. — Prin- 

 ciples to guide the inclination of hot-house roofs. — Elevations of roofs in 

 England. — Figure representing different elevations. — Figure showing the dif- 

 ference of latitude between London and Philadelphia. — Application of these 



