CONSTRUCTION OF H0T-H6USES. S^l 



iroiit, or one very little curved, is to be preferred, 

 lor ])urposcs where all the sun and liglit that can 

 ho obtained is desirable. For a i]!;reen-hoiisc, or coii- 



rvatorv, fancy may hav'C its full sway; sunshine 

 i.oingof less importance to the plants generally cul- 

 f'\'ated in tliese compartments. 



The pitch or angle that the roofs of forcing- 

 houses should make with the horizon, depends on 

 the purposes for which they are intended ; that is> 

 whether for early or for late forcing. For late forc- 

 ing-houses, and pine-stoves, generally an elevation 

 of about 35 degrees will answer ; but tlie roofs of 

 early forcing-houses should be considerably more 

 upright, that the sun may act with full eifect upon 

 them in the early part of the season. 



The front and end parapets should seldom be 

 more than two feet high of stone or brick-work. 

 If eighteen inches, or a foot only, they look the 

 lighter. The upright glasses in front may be from 

 two to four feet upon the parapets, according to the 

 purposes for which the house is intended, and ac- 

 cording to its breadth and height. If building ap- 

 pear above the framing at top, farther than the thin 

 edge of a stone coping, or a baton covered with 

 lead or copper, it has a bad effect. 



The length of forcing-houses may be anv thin"* 

 from twenty to fifty feet, but seldom more in one 

 compartment ; the width, inside, from ten to six- 

 teen ; and tlie height above the ground level, from 

 twelve to sixteen or eighteen feet ; all these dim.en- 

 sions being variable, according to the purposes for 



