[JAN. THE GREEN-HOUSE. 79 



dry up the damps, which would otherwise 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 set- 

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

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

 and constructed 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 expence, 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 frost ; 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 plaistering, 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 ad- 

 mission 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 cieling ; 

 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 of hot-bed lights, the remainder being either covered with 

 slate or shingles, and tarpolings or very strong canvas fixed on rollers, 

 fco be let down over the roof-glasses in. very severe weather ; you 



