SOME HINTS ON CONSTRUCTION 21 



greenhouse itself. An open tank possesses this advantage, 

 however, that the water it contains is tempered and never so 

 cold as that which is drawn from below ; but it takes up 

 room, and, unless very well planned, is ugly. For some 

 positions a barrel half-hidden by Ivy answers very well, and 

 may be made a pretty feature ; but, in truth, standing water 

 in an open tank is better outside than within an un- 

 heated greenhouse, so long as there is a supply close at 

 hand. The shooting in most general use is 3 in. "half 

 round " iron guttering, held up by brackets ; but 3 in. 

 "three-quarter round" spouting is better for heavy rain- 

 fall, as it is a great nuisance to have an overflow run- 

 ning down the glass and finding its way into the green- 

 house instead of into the tank. In fixing the gutters a 

 fall of from 3 in. to 4 in. should be allowed in a length of 

 50 ft. 



Before passing on to other conditions of temperature 

 dependent on ventilation and shading, it may be well to 

 suggest here that much vexation and trouble will, generally 

 speaking, be saved if the plan of the greenhouse or con- 

 servatory be made on the simplest lines. As far as my 

 experience goes most round or octagonal houses with a 

 lantern-shaped addition at the top are less adapted to 

 answer the needs of the average amateur, as they certainly 

 are of the professional gardener, than the more usual 

 straight-lined forms, which also have the advantage of being 

 less costly. 



One more item. It is becoming more and more the 

 custom to add coloured glass in some shape or form to plant- 

 houses. Sometimes it is intended as an embellishment, 

 sometimes as a screen from too neighbouring houses. Be 

 that as it may, it can scarcely be too forcibly stated that the 

 plant-grower who is content with plain, clear panes will find 

 himself the happier man in the long run. The question of 



