JAN.] THE GREEN-HOUSE. 99 



severe weather; but the aid of a moderate fire, burned in a furnace 

 contrived outside, either in the end or back wall, communicating the 

 heat to the flues or funnels ranging along the inside, will be neces- 

 sary not only in severe frosts, but also in moist foggy weather; a 

 moderate fire now and then will dry up the damps, which would other- 

 wise prove pernicious to several of the more tender kinds, especially 

 to those of succulent habits. 



A green-house should generally stand in the pleasure ground, and 

 if possible, upon a somewhat elevated and dry spot fronting the south, 

 and where the sun has full access from its rising to setting; the 

 building ought to be of brick or stone, having the front almost 

 wholly of glass-work, ranging lengthwise east and west, and con- 

 structed upon an ornamental plan. 



As to its general dimensions, with respect to length, width and 

 height, it may be from ten to fifty feet or more long, according to 

 the number of plants which you intend it should contain, and its 

 width in the clear, from ten or fifteen to twenty feet; though for a 

 middle sized house fifteen or eighteen feet is sufficient; its height to 

 the top of the upright front glasses equal to its width ; as to erect- 

 ing rooms over it, as is commonly directed, I disapprove of, such being 

 not only an additional and unnecessary expense, but they give the 

 building a heavy appearance ; on the contrary all pieces of garden 

 architecture ought to display a light, gay, and sprightly taste. 



The walls of the back and ends should be carried up three bricks, 

 or about two feet three inches thick, the more effectually to keep out 

 frobt; a furnace ought to be erected outside, either in the back wall 

 or one of the ends, as before observed, communicating with flues 

 within, ranging in two or three returns along the back wall, with, 

 only a brick on edge, with the plastering between them and the inside ; 

 also one flue running along the front and end walls, raised wholly 

 above the floor; and as to the front of the building it should have 

 as much glass as possible, and a wide glass door should be in the 

 middle, both for ornament and entrance, and for moving in and out 

 the plants ; a small door at the end for entrance in severe weather will 

 be found of considerable utility. 



The width of the windows for the glass sashes may be five or six 

 feet, and the piers between them may be either of timber, six, eight 

 or ten inches wide, according to their height, or if of brick or stone, 

 they must be about two feet wide, sloping both sides of each pier 

 inward, that by taking off the angles a more free admission may be 

 given to the rays of the sun ; the bottom sashes must reach within 

 a foot or eighteen inches of the floor of the house, and their top 

 reach within eight or ten inches of the ceiling ; and if brick or stone 

 piers two feet wide, folding shutters may be hung inside to fall back 

 against each pier. 



In the modern construction of green-houses, in order to have as 

 much glass as possible in front, the piers between the sashes are 

 commonly made of good timber from six to eight or ten inches thick, 

 according to their height, so as to admit as great a portion of light 

 and heat of the sun as may be; and, on the same account, one-half 

 or one-third of the roof is formed of glass-work, made in the manner 



