M Tt?G ^ard^i} ar)d L^^^O- W 



PRIVATE CONSERVATORIES.* 



HAVE had the above subject assigned to me for a short paper. In 

 opening this question for discussion to-night, I feel myself utterly 

 incompetent to deal with the subject, having no knowledge or 

 experience apart from the little I have obtained in connection 

 with my own home life, therefore I shall only speak of it from the 

 standpoint of growing and producing flowers, shrubs and foliage 

 plants for private use. 



Most modern houses to-day, especially in our towns and 

 cities, are lighted by gas, and when this is the case it is almost impossible to 

 succeed in the cultivation of flowers, as the gas is a deadly element to all 

 plant life. The only means to overcome this difficulty is to erect conserva- 

 tories or greenhouses adjoining the house, but so separated as to exclude 

 all the blighting effects of gas. 



In designing a conservatory, light, heat, air and water have to be con- 

 sidered. The simplest form of constructing a conservatory is a lean-to, so 

 built as to face the south if possible. This can be made ornamental if so 

 desired, by means of architectural embellishments. 



Heating is a very important item. The best and most approved method 

 is hot water. There are numerous styles of hot water boilers, but they are 

 all built upon the same principle, each inventor striving to expose the greatest 

 possible heating surface to the action of the fire. 



It is preferable to heat the conservatory independently of the house, 

 as during very severe weather it is necessary to force the fire in order to 

 maintain a proper degree of heat, which in many instances would give too 

 much heat in the house. 



Ventilation is accomplished in various ways. In small houses by lifting 

 or sliding the sashes placed in the roof for that purpose. Shading is required 

 as spring approaches, when the rays of the sun increase in power and light. 

 This can be accomplished by washing the glass with lime-wash, or with whiting 

 and milk, but, if you prefer, you can use a screen of muslin or thin cotton. 



A conservatory covering some 550 feet of surface measurement and 

 some 5000 cubic feet of air space, can be sufficiently heated in all kinds of 



* A paper read before the F. G. A. at Woodstock. 



