Portable glazed Structures. 



125 



to almost an}^ purpose, let us suppose the piece of ground 

 60 ft. by 30 ft. [Jig.Xb.) separated from the kitchen-garden by a 

 cross wall, and the space planted with camellias, oran.o-es, or a 

 mixed group of exotics, requiring protection in winter or assist- 

 ance in spring: in this case we need only provide a double row 

 of posts to support the front and centre ; secure them in cast-iron 

 sockets, sunk a few inches lower than the surface, to admit of 

 covers being put over them, and covered with soil when the 

 posts are withdrawn ; put the wooden shutters to face the north, 

 the glazed sashes to the south ; and we have the house ^y. 17. 

 inverted, forming a span-roofed house {Jig. 18.), 30 ft. by 60 ft., 

 capable of sheltering a great many plants. A house upon the 

 same principle, but lower than the accompanying section, would 

 produce the finest display of heaths ever assembled in the open 

 ground : by undulating the surface of the ground within the 

 said limits, habitats might be formed for a numerous class of the 

 beautiful Orchidese. 



Minor structures, for protecting plants, may be made to suit the 

 objects requiring protection : this would necessarily create forms 



" That might be worship'd on the bended knee, 

 And still the second dread command kept free. " 



It would therefore be needless to attempt to describe them ; but, 

 in their erection, I should always bear in mind that they should 

 only be detached parts of a perfect whole ; so that the glass that, 

 in winter, protects a group of exotics, a bed of Orchideas, or even 

 a single object, may, in summer, form part of a forcing-house, 

 or of a range of melon-frames. Thus, glass would always be 

 usefully employed, not a day of its duration lost ; and all the 

 effect produced by the winter protection would cost compara- 

 tively little, as the glass would probably be lying idle, or shelter- 

 ing a k\v miserable objects in pots. 



For half-hardy plants, I much prefer having two or three sides 

 of the upright post of the structure foi'med of close basket-work ; 

 this throwing off the rain, and at all times maintaining a perfect 

 ventilation, the interior soon becomes a fit habitation for plants 

 during the foggy humid months of winter. If these structures are 

 boarded, or formed of close materials, all round, they require con- 

 stant attendance ; and, scattered over the grounds as they neces- 

 sarily must be, they occasion much trouble, and are apt to be 

 neglected, even in the best regulated establishments. The open- 

 sided structures require nothing from the time that they are 

 erected until removed, except the addition of a few mats, in 



